The best base quotes at NI plants remain at 584p/kg for a U-3 grade steer and 586p/kg for a U-3 grade heifer.

Farmers report actual deals on offer are also steady, with factory agents generally offering around 590p to 592p/kg for U grades as a starting point.

It is noticeable how those base quotes and actual deals on offer have narrowed since the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) announced it was stopping publication of base quotes at the start of February 2026.

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At the time, factories were quoting prices to the LMC of around 614p/kg for U-3 cattle, yet actual prices being paid were just shy of 650p/kg.

Last week saw the average price paid for a U3 steer at 590.8p/kg, down 2.8p on the previous week.

R3 steers were back 1p at 586.6p/kg, although O3s were up 3.4p at 582.7p/kg.

Heifers followed a similar trend, with U3 grades down 0.8p at 591p/kg, although O4 grades were up over 8p to average 593.2p/kg.

Those higher prices paid for plainer cattle helped ensure that the average price paid for all steers and heifers was up 0.5p/kg to 583.3p/kg – it is the first increase in this overall average since early March 2026.

Britain

The market in Britain has also steadied, with prices paid last week little changed from the previous week and generally about 10p/kg ahead of NI.

With tighter numbers and hot weather in the forecast across England into next week, there are hopes it will help to boost demand, especially for higher-value cuts.

The trade is also steady in the Republic of Ireland, with prices remaining about 20p/kg behind NI.

That price gap, as well as fewer finished cattle in NI, has encouraged some more Irish cattle north for slaughter. Last week. 429 head were imported, up from 281 the previous week and the highest weekly import figure since March. Just 27 cattle went in the opposite direction.

Cows

The best quote for a fat cow is at 485p/kg for an O+ animal, although deals for good-quality suckler types generally start around the 520p/kg mark.

The overall price paid for cows last week was virtually unchanged at 465.5p/kg. However, R3 grades were up 1.6p at 520.4p/kg, with R4s up 2p to average 523p/kg.

NI sheep: prices ease for lambs

The trade for spring lambs has eased this week.

In the plants, the best quote is down 40p at 840p/kg or £176.40 at the 21kg limit. In the marts on Monday and Tuesday, prices bid were down by 50p to 90p/kg although Ballymena, Wednesday, was a strong trade.

In Gortin, lambs at 24.3kg made £221 or 909p/kg, with 24kg at £180.50 or 752p. Lighter lambs at 21kg sold to £200 or 952p/kg.

In Kilrea, 700 lambs sold from 784p to 861p/kg, down by around 80p/kg.

Markethill had an easier trade, selling 650 head from 750p to 821p/kg, down by 85p/kg. The 821p was for 19kg at £156, with 806p for 19.8kg at £159.50. Heavy lambs made 770p for 24kg at £185, with 769p for 24.7kg at £190. The top price was for 27.5kg at £198.

Saintfield sold 548 lambs from 772p to 850p/kg, down by from 50p to 63p/kg.

In Ballymena on Wednesday, lambs at 19.5kg made £173 or 887p/kg, with 20kg at £173.50 or 868p. Lambs at 21.5kg sold to £179 or 833p/kg, with 22.5kg at £187 or 831p.

Fat ewes

The trade for fat ewes is a bit easier.

In Gortin, best ewes ran from £154 to a top of £228.

In Kilrea, the top was £246 and in Markethill, the best fleshed ewes sold from £150 to £216.

In Saintfield, the top was £195 and in Rathfriland, it was £218.