Quotes for clean cattle are steady this week, giving a best base quote for U-3 grade steers and heifers of 596p/kg.

However, much more is available from the market, with numbers of prime cattle remaining very tight, which is leaving farmers with any numbers to sell in a very strong position to negotiate on price.

Reports suggest some factories are open to doing flat deals to secure stock and happy to waive penalties for heavy cattle and overage animals. Free haulage is also available in certain situations.

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One agent commented that prime in-spec steers and heifers ready for slaughter are virtually non-existent at present across NI.

Flat deals for beef-cross-dairy bulls have been done around the 600p/kg mark, with prices being paid for steers and heifers pushing well into the 610s.

That is reflected in the prices paid last week, with U3 steers averaging 610.4p/kg, up 7.7p on the previous week, and R3 steers at 609.4p/kg, up 8.6p week on week.

Slightly more is available for heifers, with U3 grades averaging 614p/kg, up 10.7p, and R3s at 607.2p/kg, up 7p/kg on the previous week.

Across all steers slaughtered in NI last week, prices paid averaged 605.2pkg, while heifers averaged 603.7p/kg.

The average across both steers and heifers was 604.6p/kg, up 9.1p on the previous week and 16.2p more than what was paid at the end of June. On a 380kg carcase, it is an increase of just over £60 per head.

Last week’s average is also the highest price paid for cattle since the end of April, although still 30p/kg behind prices paid at this time last year.

Britain

In Britain, returns for cattle last week were also up, but to a lesser extent than that seen in NI. The overall average for U-3 grade steers rose 2.4p/kg to 609.5p/kg, while R3s were up 1.3p at 607.3p/kg. Those prices are slightly behind what was paid in NI.

In the Republic of Ireland, tight numbers have helped ensure the trade is steady, with prices paid generally 20 to 25p/kg behind NI.

Cows

Quotes for fat cows are steady at 510p for an R grade and to 500p for an O+ animal.

Last week, the average price paid for R3 grading cows was 539.3p/kg.

Steady prices for spring lamb

At NI factories, the best quote for spring lamb is at 750p/kg.

However, there was a strong trade in Gortin. Heavy lambs made from £208 for 30kg to £229 for 36kg.

Middle weights made to £119 or 826p/kg for 23.1kg. Lighter lambs made to £190 or 892p for 21.3kg.

In Kilrea, the top lambs sold for 791p/kg or £166 for 21kg, with 777p or £171 for 22kg and 765p or £176 for 23kg. The best at 24kg made £176.50 or 735p/kg.

Markethill had a steady trade. Good-quality heavy lots sold to 697p for 24.4kg at £170, with 688p/kg for 24kg at £165. Quality mid-weights sold to 714p/kg for 22kg at £157, with 703p for 21.9kg at £154.

Light store lambs sold to 825p/kg for 14kg at £115.50 followed by 792p/kg for 12kg at £95. Stronger stores sold to 734p/kg for 17.3kg at £127.

In Saintfield, lambs at 26.5kg made £180, with 25kg at £170. The best lambs at 23kg made £166 or 722p/kg, with 21.5kg at £150 or 698p/kg.

In Ballymena, the trade was steady. Heavy lambs at 26kg made £174.50 or 671p/kg, with 25.5kg at £170 or 667p/kg. Lambs at 24kg sold to £161 or 671p/kg, with 23kg making up to £164 or 713p/kg. And lambs at 21kg made £143 or 681p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin the top fat ewe was £258 with a run from £170 to £248. In Kilea the top was £292.

In Markethill, good quality ewes sold from £160 to £250, with second quality making from £110 to £150.