Local factories have maintained their base quotes for clean cattle giving a best of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

With farmers looking to clear sheds, there is no shortage of cattle coming forward for slaughter, with factories well booked into next week.

As a result, the deals on offer are generally unchanged or down slightly on the last couple of weeks, with farmers being quoted a starting point of 628p to 632p/kg for U-3 grading steers, with slightly more going for regular suppliers and butcher-type heifers.

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Last week, the price paid for U3 steers in NI averaged 633.7p/kg, down 0.7p on the previous week. R3s were at 629.7p/kg, down 1.8p.

U3 heifers were back 3.5p at 632.6p/kg, with R3s down 0.7p at 630.9p/kg.

Across all steers and heifers, the price paid averaged 627.4p/kg, down 1p on the previous week’s average. That price is now 16p/kg behind what was being paid at the start of the year, which equates to over £60/head on a 380kg carcase.

Prices have also been edging back in Britain over the last week, with steers down by around 2p/kg, leaving U-3 animals at 641.6p/kg and U-3 heifers at 645.8p/kg.

That price is still 10p to 13p/kg ahead of the trade in NI.

Irish prices

In the Republic of Ireland, cattle prices have steadied after a number of weeks of significant price cuts.

The difference to NI prices is now 35p to 50p/kg dependent on grade.

The gap in prices attracted more cattle north for direct slaughter during March, with numbers peaking in the second week of the month at 738 head.

However, with more cattle available locally during April, that trade has eased off, with 300 cattle imported for direct slaughter last week.

Just 41 head were sent in the opposite direction during the last week.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are steady at the plants and the best quote for an O+ cow is at 505p/kg. Much more is available for well-fleshed sucklers, with prices paid continuing around the 560p/kg mark.

Last week, the price paid for R3 cows averaged 560.5p/kg, with R4 cows at 561.7p/kg.

P2 cows were back 5p to average 494.5p/kg, with P3 cows down 1.9p at 517p/kg.

NI sheep: prices up again

The mart trade for spring lambs and hoggets has maintained its very firm trade.

Quotes in the plants are at 830p for 22kg and 830p for 22.5kg deadweight, putting hoggets to a max of £186.75.

Spring lamb quotes at ABP Linden are at 880p/kg or £184.80 for 21kg.

The best show lambs in Gortin made dramatic prices, with 23kg at £365 or 1,587p/kg with 22.5kg making £270 or 1,200p/kg. Commercial prices ranged from 700p/kg to 786p/kg for weights from 22kg to 24.4kg.

In Kilrea, spring lambs made £171 for 19kg or 900p, with £196 for 22kg or 893p/kg. Hoggets made £186 for 23.5kg or 792p, with £191 for 24.5kg or 780p/kg.

In Markethill, spring lambs made £178 for 21kg or 848p. Hoggets made £177 for 24kg or 738p/kg.

In Saintfield, spring lambs made £185 for 26kg, with £180 for 22.5kg. Hoggets were steady at £197 for 30kg and £190 for 28kg.

In Ballymena, trade was very strong. Spring lambs sold to £203 for 21.5kg or 944p, with £201 for 21kg or 957p/kg. Hoggets at 26.5kg made £203 or 766p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top price was £310, with a run from £220 to £286.

In Kilrea, the top was £358 and in Markethill was £280.

In Saintfield, top price was £298, with a run from £164 to £250 and in Rathfriland was £310/head.