The market for finished beef cattle is steady, with base quotes for U-3 grades unchanged this week, with a best quote of 632p/kg for steers and 636p/kg for heifers.
The actual prices being paid to regular suppliers remain around the mid-650p/kg mark, with more available for larger numbers.
However, after eight to 10 weeks of very tight supply, there are some indications more cattle are starting to come forward for slaughter, which might limit future deals.
This time last year, prices paid were around the 490p/kg mark, with NI approximately 60p/kg ahead of the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and about 15p/kg behind the average in Britain.
That situation is now very different and while Irish factories are keen to get ROI prices down, the prices they paid last week remain ahead of NI and Britain across most of the top grades.
Last week, U3 steers in NI were back marginally to average 655.8p/kg, although U3 heifers were up slightly at 657.9p/kg.
Average price
Across all steers, the average paid was up 4.5p at 651p/kg, with heifers up by a similar amount at 651.2p/kg. It is the highest weekly average since early June.
Those NI prices are similar to what is being paid in Britain, where the market has edged back slightly in recent weeks. Last week, the prices paid for U and R grading prime cattle were generally back by 1p to 2p/kg.
With narrow price gaps to Britain, no NI cattle were sent across the Irish Sea for direct slaughter. However, despite the very strong market in ROI, a total of 295 Irish cattle were imported into NI for slaughter last week.
That total is well below what has been seen in previous years, but it is the largest weekly import figure since April. Just 54 cattle from NI moved in the opposite direction.
Cows
Fat cow quotes at the plants are steady this week, ranging from 520p to 540p for an O+ cow.
More is available for well-fleshed suckler types, with the price paid for R3 grades averaging 581.1p/kg last week, up 6.7.
R4 cows averaged 576.4p/kg, up 2.8p, while O4s were virtually unchanged at 556.6p/kg.
NI sheep: lamb trade comes under pressure
Quotes at the plants are falling, with a best quote of 650p/kg deadweight, making a lamb worth £136.50 at 21kg.
In the marts, prices for fat lambs are down by up to 30p/kg, but store lamb prices remain strong.
In Gortin, heavy lambs at 28.7kg made £144 or 501p/kg.
Lambs at 23kg made £135 or 587p/kg. Lighter lambs at 21.7kg made £130 or 599p/kg.
Kilrea sold 1,300 lambs making from 600p to 742p/kg, down by 30p for heavier sorts. The best prices were paid for store lambs, with 715p for 17kg at £121.50 and 700p for 17kg at £119. Lambs at 22kg made 605p a kg or £133, with 21kg at 624p a kg or £131/head.
Markethill had an easier trade, with 1,200 lambs making from 580p to 634p/kg, down by 30p/kg.
The 634p was for 20.2kg at £128, with 630p for 20kg at £126. However, store lambs were a strong trade, with 833p paid for 12kg at £100 and 823p for 13kg at £107.
In Saintfield, 940 lambs made from 580p to 695p/kg, down by 10p. Texels at 25kg made £140, with 24kg at £138. Stores at 15kg made to £111.
The sale in Ballymena was muted. Stores at 18kg made £122, 678p/kg. Lambs at 26kg made £146.5, 563p, with 25kg at £140, 560p. Lambs at 22kg made up to £130, 591p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin fat ewes sold to £230. Kilrea had a top of £198. In Markethill, the best ewes sold from £140 to £228, with plainer sorts from £100 to £130.
In Saintfield the top was £200, with others from £166 to £198/head.
