Trade for cattle remains steady, with the best quotes in the plants at 584p for a U-3 grade steer and at 586p/kg for a U-3 grade heifer.

With many sheds empty and farmers concentrating on field work, reports suggest factory agents are finding it a lot more difficult to secure numbers this week, which has left some factories handling fewer cattle than they expected.

That pressure on numbers has helped to underpin the trade, and while most opening offers are around the 586p/kg mark, prices into the 590s for U-3 steers and heifers are generally available.

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Last week saw the average price paid for U3 steers edge back 1.4p to average 589.4p/kg, although R3s were up 0.6p at 587.2p/kg.

The average paid for U3 heifers was up 1.2p at 592.2p/kg, while R3s were up 1.1p at 586p/kg. Across all steers and heifers, the average price paid last week was 583.2p/kg – that price is closely matched to the overall average in the previous two weeks.

Britain

There has also been a significant steadying in the beef trade in Britain following sharp price falls during April and May. The average price paid last week for U-3 steers was over 600p/kg for the first time since mid-May, while U-3 heifers averaged 606.3p/kg. The price gap to NI has widened out slightly to around 14p/kg.

Tight numbers are also adding some positivity to the trade in the Republic of Ireland, although prices paid have dropped well behind Britain in the last couple of weeks to sit at over 50p/kg across most grades.

Imports

With fewer cattle available, the trade in cattle coming in from the south for direct slaughter in NI fell to just 171 head, which is the lowest weekly total so far in 2026. Only one animal was recorded by DAERA as going for slaughter in the opposite direction.

Cows

The best quote for a fat cow remains at 494p/kg for an O+ animal.

With relatively small numbers of quality sucklers coming forward, R grades are making over 520p/kg, with the price paid for R3s averaging 525p/kg last week.

P2 grading cows averaged 464.3p/kg last week, with P3 cows at 480.8p/kg, up 1.2p on the previous week.

Prices down for spring lamb

The trade for spring lambs has eased back.

In the plants, the quote is down 40p at 800p/kg or £168 at the 21kg limit. In the marts the trade is generally down by 20p to 30p/kg.

In Gortin, lambs at 28kg made £224 or 800p/kg with 25kg at £190 or 760p. Lambs at 23kg made £176.50 or 767p/kg with 23.1kg at £173 or 748p. Lighter lambs at 20.6kg made to £159 or 774p/kg with 20kg at £154 or 770p/kg.

In Kilrea, the trade was slightly easier, with 750 lambs selling from 764p to 824p/kg, down by 20p. Lambs at 22.5kg made £185.50 or 824p/kg and £184 or 818p and £183.50 or 816p. Best at 22kg made £178 or 809p/kg and best at 21kg made £167 or 795p. Lighter sorts at 19kg made £147 or 774p/kg. Heavies at 25.5kg reached £208 or 816p with 26kg at £206.50 or 794p/kg.

In Markethill the trade was back a bit with 780 head selling to 798p/kg. The 798p was for 24kg at £191.50 with 786p for 24.1kg at £189.50. Midweight lambs made 818p for 22kg at £180 with 817p for 23kg at £188. Heavy lambs at 25.4kg made £196 or 772p/kg.

Saintfield sold 505 lambs from 745p to 820p/kg, down by 30p on last week.

In Ballymena, Wednesday, the trade was easier. Lambs at 17.5kg made £133 or 760p/kg with 19kg at £139 or 732p. Lambs at 20.5kg made £148 or 722p/kg with 22kg at £159 or 723p. Heavier sorts at 25kg made £189 or 756p/kg with 26kg at £194 or 746p.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, best ewes ran from £180 to a top of £236.

In Kilrea, the top was £214 and in Markethill the best ewes sold from £170 to £255.

And in Saintfield, the top was £250.