Base factory quotes for U-3 grading fat cattle have pushed up at one plant, giving a best quote of 632p for steers and 636p for heifers.

However, farmers report starting prices remain in the low to mid-650s, with factories keen to secure numbers amid tight supplies.

Last week, the price paid for U3 steers was unchanged at 656p/kg, with U3 heifers up very marginally at 655.8p/kg.

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However, there were some significant price increases down the grades, leaving the overall average price paid for steers at 647p/kg, up 2.6p and the heifer average up 7.1p at 651.4p/kg.

Across all steers and heifers, prices averaged 648.8p/kg, up 4.4p on the week.

This time last year, the average stood at 476p/kg, which is a difference of over £650 on a 380kg carcase.

Britain

The prices paid for U and R grades in NI are close to what was paid across Britain last week, where the market was largely unchanged.

However, the trade in ROI continues to be driven on by tight supplies, leaving prices paid around 10p/kg ahead of NI for some top grades and even above what is on offer in Scotland.

R3 steers in ROI last week averaged 662.6p/kg.

Meanwhile, in NI marts, prices bid for beef cattle are strong. In Markethill, heavy bullocks at 716kg made £2,900, with 608kg at £2,430.

Heavy heifers at 610kg made £2,610, with 645kg at £2,600.

Even assuming a generous kill-out, these prices relate to factory prices starting around 690p/kg, although an allowance should be made for the £75 slaughter payment.

Cows

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

In the marts, at Ballymena, a fat cow at 690kg made £2,994 or 434p/kg, with 640kg at £2,777, also 434p/kg.

Friesian cows at 750kg made £2,085 or 278p/kg, with 700kg at £1,918 or 274p/kg.

The average price paid at local factories for an R3 cow last week was 569.3p, down by 2p/kg, although R4s were up 10p at 575.6p/kg.

The cow trade in ROI is exceptionally strong and around 50p ahead of NI.

NI sheep: upward momentum in lamb trade

Quotes for lambs at NI plants are up this week to 690p/kg deadweight making a lamb worth £144.90 at 21kg.

In the marts, prices for fat lambs are up by 8p to 20p/kg with store lamb prices a strong trade.

In Gortin, heavy lambs at 26kg made £165 or 634p/kg.

Lambs at 23.2kg made £146.50 or 631p, with 23.1kg at £143 or 619p/kg. Lighter lambs at 21.3kg made £147 or 690p/kg.

Kilrea had a sale of 1,200 lambs making from 646p to 744p/kg, up by 8p to 54p/kg. The top prices were paid for store lambs, with 744p for 16kg at £119. Other pens of stores ranged from 684p to 737p/kg.

In Markethill, a very big sale of 1,860 lambs made from 620p to 658p/kg, up by 20p.

The 658p was for 20kg at £131.50, with 654p for 20.2kg at £132. Heavier sorts made from £155 to £191 each.

Store lambs were dearer than last week, with 879p paid for 10.7kg at £94 and 833p for 12kg at £100, with others making from 690p to 736p/kg.

In Saintfield, 1,045 lambs made from 620p to 750p/kg, up by 10p to 50p/kg. Texels at 26kg made £175.

In Ballymena, lambs at 19.5kg made £135 or 692p/kg, with 22kg at £147 or 668p/kg. Lambs at 24kg made £148 or 617p/kg.

Fat ewes

A very strong trade in Gortin saw the best ewes making £275, with a run from £170 to £260.

In Kilrea, the top was £252, while Markethill saw the best ewes sold from £160 to £266, with second quality from £120 to £150.

In Saintfield, the top was £218 and in Rathfriland it was £236.