Although some factories have left their base quotes unchanged from last week, others are up by another 4p/kg, leaving the best quote at 616p/kg for a U-3 grade steer and 620p/kg for a U-3 grade heifer.

However, much more is available, with the best deals now into the 630s and farmers with numbers to sell in a good position to negotiate on price.

Those higher returns are reflected in the prices paid last week, with U3 steers averaging 628.5p/kg, up 4.9p on the previous week and R3s at 626.7p/kg, a weekly rise of 4.3p.

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The price paid for U3 heifers crossed 630p/kg for the first time since early April, with prices averaging 631.4p/kg, up 4.8p on the previous week.

Across all steers and heifers, analysis by the Livestock and Meat Commission shows the average price paid last week was at 622p/kg, an increase of 3.5p on the previous week. That average has now increased by over 26p/kg since the start of September.

Britain

Prices paid in Britain have pushed on strongly in recent weeks and since the start of September, averages are up by over 30p/kg across most grades. As a result, the price gap to NI has widened to nearly 25p/kg for some grades.

Last week, the prices paid for top-grading steers and heifers in Britain averaged over 650p/kg.

In the Republic of Ireland, prices paid are generally unchanged and remain around 40p/kg behind NI.

Last week, 532 cattle were imported from the south for direct slaughter in NI. That figure is up from 363 in the previous week and the highest weekly import since March. Just 21 cattle headed in the opposite direction.

With local factories ramping up kills to fill Christmas orders, there were 9,937 cattle slaughtered in NI last week, which is the highest weekly figure since February. It included 2,339 cows, which is the highest weekly kill of cows this year.

Cows

The best quotes for fat cows are at 520p for an R grade and 510p for an O+ animal. The prices paid for R grades remain around the 540p/kg mark, with R4 cows averaging 540.8p/kg last week.

Prices paid for P grades were also higher, with P3s at 496.8p/kg, up 3.9p and P2s at 478.9p/kg, up 4.3p on the previous week.

NI sheep: quotes ease for lamb

Quotes for fat lambs have eased, with a best of 690p for 22kg. Prices in marts are also down.

In Gortin, heavy lambs at 29kg made £160. Lambs at 25kg sold to £152, with 24kg to £151 and 23kg to £141. Store lambs were a strong trade, with 17kg making £130 and 16kg at £129.

In Kilrea, 23kg lambs made £151 or 657p/kg, with 22kg at £140 or 636p. Stores at 20kg reached £133.50 or 668p and 18kg at £119 or 661p/kg.

In Markethill, heavy lambs sold to 627p for 24.4kg at £153, with 604p for 24kg at £145. Good mid-weights sold to 721p/kg for 22.2kg at £160, with 692p for 23.7kg at £164.

Store lambs were firm, with strong types selling to 774p/kg for 18.1kg at £140 and 756p for 17kg at £128.50.

In Saintfield, lambs over 30kg made £170, £164 and £160. Lambs at 25kg sold to £147, with 23kg to £135 and 21kg made £120.

In Ballymena, lambs at 27kg made £155 or 574p/kg, with 25kg at £157 or 628p. A big show weighing 24.5kg made from £140 to £148, or from 573p to 604p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the tops made from £160 to £265 and in Kilrea the top was £188. In Markethill, the best ewes made from £180 to £258. In Saintfield, best ewes sold to £205.