The best quotes in the plants are unchanged again this week at 584p for a U-3 grade steer and 586p for a U-3 grade heifer.
After 12 weeks of continual price cuts, it looks like the bottom has finally been reached and there is a bit of positivity in the trade this week, with actual deals starting around the 590p/kg mark for regular suppliers.
For the first time since mid-February, the price paid last week for U3 grading steers was up on the previous week, with the average at 593.6p/kg, a rise of 2p.
However, R3 steers were back 1.7p to average 587.6p/kg, with O3s down 2.7p at 579.3p/kg.
Heifers followed similar trends, with U3 grades averaging 591.8p/kg, up 1.1p, although O3s were down 4.2p at 579p/kg.
Across all steers and heifers, prices averaged 582.8p/kg, down 3.1p on the previous week.
Britain
Reports suggest the trade in Britain has also steadied amid tighter supplies of finished cattle. Overall, prices paid last week were back by 1 to 3p/kg, however, there was an increase in Scotland across the top conformation grades – these Scottish prices had fallen significantly behind the north of England in recent weeks.
Supplies are also tighter in NI when compared to the strong numbers that came forward during April and May.
Last weeks’ kill in NI totalled 9,131 head, which was the lowest number slaughtered in five weeks.
However, while cow numbers remained strong at 1,821, the prime kill was down to 7,086, which was its lowest point since early April.
Last week’s NI cattle kill also included 281 imports from the Republic of Ireland for direct slaughter, up from 185 head the previous week, but still behind the weekly average of 379 to date in 2026. A total of 29 cattle were sent in the opposite direction.
Cows
The best quote for a fat cow remains at 485p/kg for an O+ animal.
Prices paid last week were generally steady, with R grades edging up slightly, leaving R4 cows at 521p/kg and R3s at 518.8p/kg.
O3 cows were up 2.4p at 499.1p/kg, although P grades were back marginally, with P2 cows down 2.8p at 462.3p/kg, while P3s were back 0.2p at 478.6p/kg. Those cow prices remain about 10 to 20p/kg behind those in Britain.
The trade for spring lambs has pushed up further this week.
In the plants, the best quote is up 30p at 880p/kg or £184.80 at the 21kg limit.
Higher prices in Gortin saw lambs at 27kg make £237 or 877p/kg with 25.8kg at £215 or 833p. Lighter lambs at 21.5kg sold for £193.50 or 900p/kg.
In Kilrea, a strong trade saw lambs at 21.5kg make £202.50 or 942p/kg with 22kg at £199 or 905p. Lambs at 21kg sold for £189.50 or 902p/kg with 23kg at £200 or 870p.
In Markethill, the trade was firm. Lambs at 20.7kg made £187.50 or 906p.kg with 22kg at £194.50 or 884p. Heavy lambs at 25kg made £208 or 832p/kg with 24kg at £198.50 or 827p.
In Ballymena, Wednesday, a strong trade had lambs at 20.5kg selling for £180 or 878p/kg with 21kg at £178 or 848p. Lambs at 21.5kg made £186 or 865p/kg with 22.5kg at £197 or 876p and 23.5kg at £199 or 847p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin, best ewes ran from £200 to a top of £292.
In Kilrea, the top was £270 and in Markethill the best fleshed ewes sold from £160 to £236.
In both Saintfield and Rathfriland the top was £230.
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