Quotes for fat cattle have eased slightly at one plant, although others are unchanged, leaving the best quote at 630p for U-3 grade steers and 634p for heifers.

Slightly more cattle are starting to appear, although numbers are not what would normally be seen at this time of year.

That tightness in supply has helped underpin prices paid, which remain well ahead of base quotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Farmers report prices in the mid-650s on offer, although there is more resistance from factory agents to cross over the 660p/kg mark.

Last week, U3 steers averaged 656.6p/kg, down 0.6p, with U3 heifers at 657.2p/kg, down 2.6p/kg.

Across all steers, average prices were back 2.7p at 648.9p/kg, with heifers averaging 649.3p/kg, down 1.8p.

The prices being paid in NI for U grades are closely matched to those in Britain, while prices on down the grades in NI are ahead in most cases, mainly due to the number of cattle in traditional breed schemes that are price reported in NI.

Last week, the prices paid in Britain edged up by 1p to 2p, mainly driven by increased prices in the north of England as processors sought to close the differential to Scotland.

In the Republic of Ireland, after a number of weeks of significant price falls, the market has steadied this week and is up 10c/kg in some cases. Prices paid remain around 20p/kg behind NI, with a narrower gap for U grades.

The price gap from north to south has attracted some more Irish cattle for direct slaughter in NI, with 470 coming in last week, the highest weekly total since April.

However, that is still less than half of the same week last year and across 2025, direct imports are down 33%. A total of just 46 cattle were sent in the opposite direction.

Cows

Fat cow quotes at one of the plants have slipped this week by 6p to 534p for an O+ cow, but the best quote remains at 540p/kg.

However, more is still available for well-fleshed suckler types. Last week, the price paid for R3 grading cows was up 3.1p at 578.1p/kg, with R4 up 7.7p at 582.7p/kg.

NI sheep: lamb trade holds steady

The plants have maintained their quote at 650p/kg for 22kg, making a lamb worth £143 at the limit.

In the marts, prices bid for fat lambs are unchanged, with strong prices paid for stores.

In Gortin, heavy lambs from 26kg to 28kg made from £142 to £151.

Kilrea sold lambs to a top of 730p/kg. The 730p was for 20kg at £146, with 714p for 21kg at £150. Heavy lambs made 703p for 32kg at £225, with 653p for 30kg at £196.

Markethill had a steady trade, with 1,190 lambs making from 600p to 651p/kg.

The 651p was for 20.5kg at £133.50, with 638p for 20kg at £127.50. Heavier lambs made 592p for 24kg at £142, with 563p for 24.5kg at £138.

Store lambs were slightly easier, with 759p paid for 14.5kg at £110 and 755p for 15.9kg at £120.

In Saintfield, 865 lambs made from 600p to 745p/kg, no change on last week. Texels at 30kg made £164, with 22kg at £159 and 24kg at £150. Stores at 17kg made to £119.

And in Rathfriland, 1,000 lambs sold from 640p to 737p/kg.

Fat ewes

The trade for fat ewes is slightly easier, with a top in Kilrea of £214.

In Gortin, the top was £188.

In Markethill, fleshed ewes sold from £120 to £168, with plainer sorts from £70 to £110.

In Saintfield, the best Texels made from £210 to £236. And in Rathfriland, the top was £210.