Some factories that have been pushing on with price rises have decided to put the brakes on, with their base quotes down by 4p/kg. Quotes at most other factories are unchanged.
It has left the best quote of 612p/kg for a U-3 grade steer and 616p for a U-3 grade heifer.
The actual prices on offer remain around the 630p/kg mark, although there is some reluctance to match deals from last week, when heifers in particular made prices into the mid-630s.
That is reflected in the prices paid last week, with U3 heifers averaging 635p/kg, up 2.8p and the highest weekly average since the end of March.
U3 steers were up 2.1p to average 632.6p/kg, with R3s up 0.7p at 629.8p/kg.
Across all steers and heifers, prices paid increased 1.6p to average 624.7p/kg, which is 30p/kg ahead of what was paid in late summer.
Numbers
The recent improved trade has been driven by factories preparing for Christmas, but there is no shortage of finished cattle, with recent kills crossing 10,000 head for the first time since early February.
As well as higher numbers, the gap to the trade in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) is also not conducive to further price rises.
In the last couple of weeks, the difference has widened out to the equivalent of 50p to 60p/kg depending on grade. For most of this year, it sat around the 40p/kg mark. This time last year it was around 20 to 25p/kg.
There are also suggestions the ROI trade is under a bit of pressure this week, with some factories looking to cut 10c/kg off quotes.
In Britain, prices paid for prime cattle last week were up by another 3p to 5p/kg, with U and R grade steers and heifers over 650p/kg and into the 660s in some cases.
Imports
Despite the price gap, there hasn’t been an influx of ROI cattle for direct slaughter in NI, with 372 head brought in last week.
A total of 53 were sent in the opposite direction
Cows
The best quotes for fat cows are at 520p for an R grade and 510p for an O+ animal.
Unlike prime cattle, the trade for cows is evenly matched across Britain and Ireland.
The price paid for R3s and 4s in NI remained above the 540p/kg mark last week.
NI lambs: steady prices for sheep
Quotes for fat lambs at the plants are steady, with a best quote of 690p for 22kg.
In Gortin, heavy lambs at 33kg made £177, with 29kg at £162. Lambs at 24kg sold to £150, with 22kg at £138. Store lambs were a strong trade, with 20kg making up to £128 and 18kg to £115.
In Kilrea, 24.5kg sold for up to £150 or 612p/kg. Light lambs made good prices, with 20kg at £128.50 or 643p/kg and 22kg at £140.50 or 639p. Stores at 18kg reached £125 or 694p, with 17.5kg at £118 or 674p/kg.
In Markethill, heavy lambs sold to 638p for 24kg at £153, with 621p for 24.4kg at £151.50. Mid-weights sold to 708p/kg for 20kg at £141.50, with 675p for 20kg at £135.
Store lambs sold to £120 or 822p/kg for 14.6kg and 807p for 15.8kg at £127.50. Heavier sorts at 17.4kg made £133.50 or 767p/kg, with 750p for 17kg at £127.50.
In Ballymena, a firm trade saw lambs at 24.5kg making £150.50 and £149 or 614p and 608p/kg. Heavies at 29kg reached £168 or 579p/kg and stores at 20kg made £132 or 660p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin, ewes made from £160 to £214 and in Kilrea, the top was £276. In Markethill, the best ewes made from £160 to £230, with seconds from £110 to £140.
