Quotes for fat cattle have come back this week, and the best quote is at 626p/kg for U-3 grade steers and 630p for U-3 heifers.
Those top base quotes are generally down by 4p/kg, although some factories have sought to cut starting prices by up to 10p and warned of further reductions to come.
However, the actual prices being paid remain well ahead of quotes, with deals starting at around 650 to 652p/kg and slightly more going for large suppliers and for butcher-type heifers.
Last week, U3 grading steers averaged 655p/kg, down 1.5p, although U3 heifers edged up 0.4p to finish at an average of 657.6p/kg.
Across all steers, prices were down 1.7p at 647.2p/kg, with heifers up 1p at 650.3p/kg.
Prices paid in Britain last week were generally steady or up slightly in some cases.Scotland has edged ahead of the prices being paid in England for prime cattle, with gaps emerging of around 5 to 10p/kg. However, the prices being paid in England remain similar to what is on offer in NI for U and R grades.
In the Republic of Ireland prices continue to move upwards after the significant price drops seen during September. Reports suggest quotes are up another 5 to 10c/kg on the back of reasonably tight slaughter numbers. Last week, R3 steer prices in ROI were up 2.6p to sit 21.4p/kg behind NI.
Numbers
More cattle are starting to come forward for slaughter in NI, although the numbers are still well behind this time last year.
Last week, 7,458 prime cattle were slaughtered, which was the largest weekly kill since June. The cow kill of 2,258 was the largest since April and left the total kill last week at 9,957 head. However, in the same week in 2024, that total figure stood at 11,441 cattle.
Cows
Base quotes for fat cow have also slipped at some of the plants, but the best quote for an O+ cow remains at 540p/kg.
Last week, the price paid for R3 grades averaged 571.6p/kg, down 6.5p, with R4 grades at 573p/kg, down 9.7p/kg. The most common grade is a P2, which averaged 510.3p/kg, down 7.1p on last week.
Base quotes slip for NI lamb
In the plants, lamb quotes are slipping with the best now at 645p/kg for 22kg making a lamb worth £141.90 at the limit. However, in the marts, prices bid for fat lambs show little change. In Gortin, heavy lambs from 25kg to 27kg made from £144 to £151 per head. Kilrea sold 900 lambs from 603p to 711p/kg. The 711p was for 18kg at £128. Very heavy lambs made 677p for 31kg at £210. Lambs at 24kg made £149 or 608p/kg with 22kg at £136 or 618p/kg. Markethill had a steady trade with 1,250 lambs making from 600p to 664p/kg. The 664p was for 20kg at £133 and for 23.5kg at £156. In Saintfield, 710 lambs made from 600p to 730p/kg, no change. Texels at 25kg made £151 with 27kg at £146. Stores at 17kg made to £124. And in Rathfriland, 20.8kg lambs made £132.50 or 637p with 18.3kg at £114 or 623p. Lambs at 24.7kg made £148 or 599p/kg.
Fat ewes
The trade for fat ewes has picked up this week. In Gortin the top was £192 and in Kilrea is was £228. In Markethill, top prices were £210 and £204 with a run from £130 to £196 a head. Plainer sorts sold to £120. In Saintfield, the best was £214 and in Rathfriland it was £200.
Quotes for fat cattle have come back this week, and the best quote is at 626p/kg for U-3 grade steers and 630p for U-3 heifers.
Those top base quotes are generally down by 4p/kg, although some factories have sought to cut starting prices by up to 10p and warned of further reductions to come.
However, the actual prices being paid remain well ahead of quotes, with deals starting at around 650 to 652p/kg and slightly more going for large suppliers and for butcher-type heifers.
Last week, U3 grading steers averaged 655p/kg, down 1.5p, although U3 heifers edged up 0.4p to finish at an average of 657.6p/kg.
Across all steers, prices were down 1.7p at 647.2p/kg, with heifers up 1p at 650.3p/kg.
Prices paid in Britain last week were generally steady or up slightly in some cases.Scotland has edged ahead of the prices being paid in England for prime cattle, with gaps emerging of around 5 to 10p/kg. However, the prices being paid in England remain similar to what is on offer in NI for U and R grades.
In the Republic of Ireland prices continue to move upwards after the significant price drops seen during September. Reports suggest quotes are up another 5 to 10c/kg on the back of reasonably tight slaughter numbers. Last week, R3 steer prices in ROI were up 2.6p to sit 21.4p/kg behind NI.
Numbers
More cattle are starting to come forward for slaughter in NI, although the numbers are still well behind this time last year.
Last week, 7,458 prime cattle were slaughtered, which was the largest weekly kill since June. The cow kill of 2,258 was the largest since April and left the total kill last week at 9,957 head. However, in the same week in 2024, that total figure stood at 11,441 cattle.
Cows
Base quotes for fat cow have also slipped at some of the plants, but the best quote for an O+ cow remains at 540p/kg.
Last week, the price paid for R3 grades averaged 571.6p/kg, down 6.5p, with R4 grades at 573p/kg, down 9.7p/kg. The most common grade is a P2, which averaged 510.3p/kg, down 7.1p on last week.
Base quotes slip for NI lamb
In the plants, lamb quotes are slipping with the best now at 645p/kg for 22kg making a lamb worth £141.90 at the limit. However, in the marts, prices bid for fat lambs show little change. In Gortin, heavy lambs from 25kg to 27kg made from £144 to £151 per head. Kilrea sold 900 lambs from 603p to 711p/kg. The 711p was for 18kg at £128. Very heavy lambs made 677p for 31kg at £210. Lambs at 24kg made £149 or 608p/kg with 22kg at £136 or 618p/kg. Markethill had a steady trade with 1,250 lambs making from 600p to 664p/kg. The 664p was for 20kg at £133 and for 23.5kg at £156. In Saintfield, 710 lambs made from 600p to 730p/kg, no change. Texels at 25kg made £151 with 27kg at £146. Stores at 17kg made to £124. And in Rathfriland, 20.8kg lambs made £132.50 or 637p with 18.3kg at £114 or 623p. Lambs at 24.7kg made £148 or 599p/kg.
Fat ewes
The trade for fat ewes has picked up this week. In Gortin the top was £192 and in Kilrea is was £228. In Markethill, top prices were £210 and £204 with a run from £130 to £196 a head. Plainer sorts sold to £120. In Saintfield, the best was £214 and in Rathfriland it was £200.
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