Processors are chasing cattle this week, as all indications point towards a significant tightening in supplies across Northern Ireland.
Mart managers report a similar trend with a marked decline in the numbers of short-keep cattle forwarded for sale.
Several farmers report cattle agents have been in frequent contact this week requesting additional numbers to make up any shortfall in throughput.
With cattle being sought after, base quotes have increased by 4p/kg to 464p/kg on U-3 animals. However, despite the rise in quotes, the gap to the prices on offer for prime cattle has not closed.
The majority of farmers offloading cattle this week indicate 480p/kg is a more realistic starting price for in-spec stock.
Most reports indicate that 482p/kg is widely available on steers and heifers, with plenty of cattle moving off farm at this level.
Farmers selling on a more regular arrangement or who have bigger numbers to offer report deals of 2p/kg to 4p/kg more being paid.
Young bulls meeting market specification on age and weight are moving around 470p/kg, although some farmers with greater negotiating power are being offered deals in line with steer prices.
Prices are also edging upwards in Britain, as processing demand exceeds supply, pushing R4L animals into the mid-480p/kg territory, with U3 animals closing in on 490p/kg for heifers.
Last week, NI factory prices across steers and heifers of all grades rose by 2.6p/kg to average 464.37p/kg.
On U3 steers, prices rose by 2.8p/kg to average 477.9p/kg, although heifers at the same grade had a more modest increase of 0.5p/kg to 478.9p/kg. Young bulls slipped to 466.2p/kg.
Cows
Factory quotes for R3 cows start at 380p/kg, but should be disregarded, as price deals are generally opening between 400p and 410p/kg.
Cows with better conformation are making 420p to 425p/kg to keep pace with the live ring.
NI sheep: hogget trade holds steady
Having raised quotes to 530p/kg early this week, processors jumped at the chance to pull prices on the back of Irish factories reducing base quotes.
Lower prices at Irish plants had some impact on the mart trade midweek, knocking £2 to £3 off hoggets.
However, supplies are scarce and deals of 530p/kg are still available for those handling bigger numbers.
Factory quotes remain on 520p/kg or have eased 5p/kg to 515p/kg. In Gortin, heavy hoggets at 29.5kg sold to £123, 28kg to £120, 24.5kg to £119 and 22kg to £106.50.
Kilrea sold 600 hoggets from 482p to 506p/kg, little change on last week. Hoggets at 22.5kg made £112, with 23kg at £114.
In Markethill, 380 hoggets sold from 480p to 496p/kg, no change on last week.
Saintfield sold 585 hoggets from 475p to 525p/kg. Heavy Texels at 27kg made £122, Charollais at 27kg made £122. Hampshires at 22kg made £115, with 20.5kg Texels to £109.
In Rathfriland, 330 hoggets made 464p to 490p/kg, with the sale average of 470p/kg down 21p/kg on last week.
In Ballymena the trade was steady. Hoggets at 27.5kg to 30kg sold to £120, 25kg to £119.50, 23kg to £113 and 21kg to £108.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes is steady. In Gortin, top was £176, with the main run from £100 to £158. In Kilrea, top was £144 and in Markethill, it was £142. Saintfield sold Texels at £230, with the main run from £115 to £184. In Rathfriland, top was £150.
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