The prices being paid for finished cattle in NI are down for the eighth week in a row and for the fourth week in succession those reductions are as high as 10p/kg.

It leaves base quotes for U-3 grading steers and heifers around the 584p/kg mark.

Farmers report actual deals on offer generally start at 590p/kg, with 594p and 596p/kg being paid to regular suppliers for U-3 grades.

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However, as well as falling prices, the other main issue causing frustration for finishers are the delays in getting cattle slaughtered.

Most factories are booking cattle for the end of May – until numbers dry up or beef sales improve, the situation won’t change in the short term.

Last week saw the average price paid for all steers and heifers down a further 8.9p/kg to average 603.1p/kg.

The average price paid for U3 heifers was back 11.8p to 609.6p/kg, with U3 steers down 6.6p/kg at 613.1p/kg.

That U3 steer average is down over 20p/kg in just a month and 35p back since the start of the year. On a 380kg carcase, it is a difference of £133.

Britain

The trade in Britain is also under pressure, with 5p to 10p/kg taken off prices paid last week, leaving the price advantage to NI at around 10p/kg for higher conformation grades.

It is a similar picture in the Republic of Ireland, where another 10c/kg has been wiped off factory quotes this week, which leaves prices paid 25p to 30p/kg behind those on offer in NI.

Despite that price gap, cattle imports for direct slaughter in NI have tailed off in recent weeks due to higher numbers available locally.

The trade in cattle coming in last week was just 207 head, which is well down on the 2026 peak of 738 head seen in early March. Just 39 cattle were sent in the opposite direction.

Cows

The cow trade has also come under downward pressure in recent weeks, with the best quote for an O+ cow now around the 500p/kg mark, although others are closer to 485p/kg.

Last week, the average price paid for R3s was down 8.4p at 529.7p/kg, with O3 cows down 6.3p at 503.6p/kg.

P2 cows averaged 469.8p/kg, down 5.3p on the previous week, with P3 cows nearly 6p lower at 488.9p/kg.

NI sheep: prices up for spring lambs

The trade for the best spring lambs is very strong, with lambs in the marts making up to 940p/kg and over £200 in some cases.

In the plants, quotes are at 900p/kg or £189 at the 21kg limit. Hoggets are at 800p for both 22kg and 22.5kg.

In Gortin, lambs at 23.5kg made £215 or 914p/kg, with 24.6kg at £206 or 837p. Lighter lambs at 21.3kg made £185 or 868p/kg, with 19.4kg at £146 or 752p/kg.

In Kilrea, lambs at 20kg and 21kg were a strong trade. Top price was for 20kg lots at £185 or 925p/kg and £184.50 or 923p/kg. Lambs at 21kg made up to £192.50 or 917p/kg and 22kg sold to £194 or 882p/kg.

In Markethill, the best lambs made great prices. Lambs at 20kg sold to £188 or 940p/kg, with 20.8kg at £181.50 or 873p/kg. Heavy lambs at 24kg made £201 or 838p/kg and £200 or 833p/kg, with over-weights selling to £206 and £205 a head.

Heavier hoggets made to 742p/kg for 24.2kg at £179.50, with others from 710p to 725p/kg.

An excellent trade in Saintfield had lambs making from 835p to 910p/kg, up by 10p to 17p on last week and a rise of 50p over the past two weeks.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top price was £306, with a run from £200 to £278.

In Kilrea, the top was £262 and in Markethill, fleshed ewes sold from £200 to £284.