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There has been some upward movement on beef prices this week, with one processor adding as much as 4p/kg to its base quote for prime cattle.
This brings the best quote available on U-3 grading cattle to 370p/kg, bringing base quotes into line with the price most plants have opened on during recent weeks. Other plants are holding official quotes at 368p/kg.
Demand for cattle is robust on both sides of the Irish border, as UK retailers look to avoid supply chain problems from January onwards.
Farmers selling cattle this week indicate little change to price deals on offer. In-spec steers continue to move at prices of 376p/kg to 378p/kg. More regular finishers are faring better, with 380p/kg on offer.
Young bulls are moving at prices closer to base quotes, but premiums of up to 10p/kg are available for meeting carcase weight limits.
In-spec heifers are moving off farm around the 380p/kg mark, with farmers offloading animals on a regular arrangement reporting an additional 2p to 4p/kg available.
Last week, the average price paid across all grades of steers and heifers recorded a small rise of 0.2p to 368.22p/kg.
Steers averaged 377.6p/kg for U3 grading animals, a 0.5p/kg increase on the previous week. Heifers at the same grade averaged 381.5p/kg, up 3p/kg on the previous week.
The NI cattle kill totalled 9,233 head for the week ending 12 December, a rise of 43 animals week on week. Prime cattle accounted for 6,629 animals, with 2,412 cull cows processed.
Irish cattle imported for direct slaughter at local plants amounted to 231 head, down from 303 during the previous week, and partly reflects stronger demand from southern processors.
Cows
Quotes on cull cows have also increased, with one plant raising its base by 10p to 270p/kg for R3 grading animals, but still falls 10p to 20p/kg below the deals on offer. Price quotes on O+3 cows now stand at 260p/kg.
Lamb trade
Quotes at one plant increased by 5p/kg to a base of 470p/kg payable to 22kg deadweight, but there are reports of 475p/kg on offer.
In the marts, the number of lambs on offer increased. Despite higher throughput, prices paid rose by as much as 13p/kg.
The trade in Kilrea saw 560 lambs selling from 438p to 463p/kg, up by 6p/kg for heavier lambs.
Massereene sold 902 lambs from 440p to 479p/kg, up 10p/kg. In Saintfield, 440 lambs sold from 430p to 500p/kg, up by 3p to 13p on last week with a peak of £110/head.
Lisahally had a firm trade, with lambs selling to £110 and a big run making from £100 to £104/head.
In Rathfriland, 502 lambs sold from 425p to 480p/kg, with the sale average of 450p up 3p/kg on last week. The top price per kilo was paid on 22.4kg Texels making £107.50. Top price per head was £111.50 for 23kg, with lambs at 21kg making £94.50.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes remains strong, with good top prices paid for fleshed ewes. Swatragh sold ewes to £166, Kilrea to £111 and Massereene to £140.
At the Tuesday sales, Saintfield sold ewes to £159 and, in Rathfriland, ewes made £153/head for Texels and £127 for Suffolks.
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