Northern View: prices paid continue to edge down

Local meat plants have maintained their base quotes this week for clean cattle, giving a best of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

Actual deals on offer now mainly start in the late 620s, with regular suppliers able to negotiate slightly more, especially for in-spec cattle.

Last week’s prices paid continued their gradual slide, with U3 steers averaging 630.9p/kg, down 2.8p on the previous week and 12p/kg behind prices paid for the same grade at the start of March.

U3 heifers averaged 631.2p/kg, down 1.4p on the previous week.

Across all steers and heifers, prices paid last week averaged 624.2p/kg, which was down 3.2p/kg week on week and the lowest weekly average in over a year.

This time last year, the beef market was surging ahead and between the end of March and the third week of April, prices paid increased by nearly 40p/kg.

By that stage in April, steers and heifers averaged 673.4p/kg, so they are down nearly 50p/kg since then.

The beef market in Britain is also under some pressure, with prices paid generally down 2p to 4p/kg last week to sit around 10p/kg ahead of NI across U and R grades.

In the Republic of Ireland, the market is relatively steady, but it is now over 40p/kg behind NI for most grades.

Last week saw 366 cattle imported from the south for direct slaughter in NI. Just 28 cattle were sent in the opposite direction.

NI kill

Factories maintain they are well booked for cattle into next week and beyond, although some have also cut their kill days, which is creating a backlog.

Last week’s cattle kill of 9,598 head was the highest in three weeks, but nearly 1,000 head fewer than the same week in 2025.

The total kill for the year to date is running 8% behind the same period in 2025.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are steady and the best for an O+ cow is at 505p/kg.

Good-quality sucklers remain around the 560p/kg mark, with the price paid for R3 animals last week averaging 562p/kg, with R4s at 555.4p/kg.

The prices paid for P grades were back slightly, with P2 cows at 492.8p/kg and P3s at 511.8p/kg.

NI sheep: prices keep moving on

The mart trade for spring lambs and hoggets has improved again, with many fat lambs making from £200 to £208/head.

In the plants, the best spring lamb quote is at Dunbia at 905p for 21kg or £190.05/head, with ABP Linden at 900p/kg.

Hogget quotes are at 840p for both 22kg and 22.5kg deadweight, putting hoggets to a maximum of £189.

In Gortin, lambs at 24kg made £204 or 825p, with 23kg at £185 or 804p/kg.

In Kilrea, lambs at 21kg made £195 or 929p, with 21.5kg at £198.50 or 923p/kg. Hoggets at 23.5kg made £200 or 851p, with 23kg at £195 or 848p/kg.

In Markethill, spring lambs made £187 for 21kg or 891p, with £187 for 20.2kg or 886p/kg. Hoggets reached £194.50 for 24.4kg or 787p/kg.

In Saintfield, a strong trade saw lambs making £195 for 25kg, with £193 for 23kg. Hoggets made £216 for 32.5kg and £202 for 30kg.

In Ballymena, spring lambs made £205 for 21kg or 976p, with £207 for 22kg or 941p/kg. Lambs at 22kg made £201 or 914p, with £208 for 23.5kg or 885p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top price was £298, with a run from £224 to £288. In Kilrea, ewes sold to £274 and in Markethill to £296.

In Saintfield, the top price was £278, with a run from £170 to £272. And in Rathfriland, the top was £288.