Quotes for U-3 grading cattle in the plants are generally steady or up 2p to 4p/kg this week, with a best quote of 630p for steers and 634p for heifers.

However, the actual prices paid are into the 650s, with farmers reporting 654p is readily available for U3 grades, with more going for regular suppliers.

Those prices paid are similar to or slightly up on what was on offer last week. Numbers of finished cattle remain very tight.

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Last week, the price paid for U3 grading steers in NI averaged 656p/kg, up 4p on the previous week.

Heifers at the same grade averaged 655.6p/kg, up just 0.4p. Across all steers and heifers, prices paid last week averaged 644.4p/kg, which was unchanged from the previous week.

The trade in NI remains behind the prices paid in Scotland, but comparable with what is being paid across much of England.

The trade in Britain last week was up slightly for most grades, mainly driven by a reasonably strong recovery in prices paid in Scotland.

U-3 grading steers were up 4p to average 656.5p/kg and heifers were up 2p to average 661.5p/kg.

ROI prices

In the Republic of Ireland (ROI), the beef trade is generally steady this week.

That leaves prices paid 6p to 10p/kg ahead of NI and also beyond some of the top prices being paid in Britain.

As a result, the trade in cattle from ROI for direct slaughter in NI remains subdued, with 146 head imported last week.

That was up 25 on the previous week, but is still one of the lowest weekly totals so far this year.

A total of 39 head were sent in the opposite direction. No NI cattle were sent across the Irish Sea for direct slaughter.

Cows

Fat cow quotes at the plants are steady this week, ranging from 520p to 540p for an O+ cow.

However, the prices paid last week slipped back for suckler types. R3 grades were down 4.5p to average 571.2p/kg, with R4 cows down 6.4p at 565.6p/kg. Those prices are similar to what is being paid in Britain, but around 40p/kg off the prices paid in ROI.

NI sheep: lamb trade steadies at 680p/kg

Quotes at the plants are steady this week at 680p/kg deadweight, making a lamb worth £142.80 at the 21kg limit.

In the marts, prices for fat lambs are also unchanged, with store lambs a strong trade.

In Gortin, good prices were bid for heavy lambs, with 26kg making £173 or 665p/kg and 24kg at £170 or 708p/kg.

Lambs at 22kg made £164 or 745p/kg, with 22.3kg at £140.50 or 630p/kg. Lighter lambs under 22kg had 21kg at £139 or 661p/kg, with 21.8kg at £136.50 or 626p/kg.

Kilrea had a sale of 1,300 lambs making from 638p to 690p/kg. The 690p was for 20kg at £138, with 18kg making £124 or 689p/kg. Heavies at 26.5kg made £182 or 687p/kg.

Stores at 16.5kg made £113.50 or 709p/kg, with 17kg at £116.50 or 688p/kg.

Markethill had a big sale of 1,620 lambs making from 600p to 653p in a steady trade. The 653p was for 25.9kg at £169, with 648p for 25kg at £162. Lightweights made to 645p for 20kg at £129, with 637p for 20.5kg at £130.50.

Store lambs made big money, with 842p paid for 10.1kg at £85 and 819p for 11.6kg at £95, with others making from 788p to 799p a kg.

In Saintfield, 880 lambs made from 610p to 700p/kg, no change. Ballymena had lambs at 27kg making £187, with 24kg from £144 to £150.

Fat ewes

A strong trade in Gortin saw the best ewes making £218, with a run from £160 to £214.

In Kilrea the top was £244. The best ewes at Markethill sold from £180 to £288, with second quality from £120 to £160.

In Saintfield the top was £220.