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Finished cattle remain in short supply and with factory agents scrambling to source numbers, beef prices continue to rise.
Base quotes have risen to 446p/kg for U-3 grading animals this week, although some plants are keeping quotes below 440p/kg.
However, with farmers holding the upper hand when negotiating on price, such quotes should be ignored.
Competition for all types of cattle is rife and competing processors are offering a multitude of deals to entice farmers on to their books.
Farmers state they are being contacted by cattle agents working for various processors, all with a view to securing cattle over the next month.
The live ring also provides a serious market alternative to selling direct for slaughter and on higher-grading cattle, prices are running well above factory prices. Where farmers are offloading cattle direct for slaughter, 460p/kg is widely available as a starting point.
Regular finishers report deals of 464p and 465p/kg offered on steers and heifers and, in some instances, free transport is included for bigger numbers in lieu of higher prices.
Penalties on carcase weight have been thrown out the window and there are flat-rate deals above 460p/kg on offer at several plants.
At the upper end of the market, deals are being made around 470p/kg in return for a bigger number of prime cattle.
Young bulls are moving around 456p to 458p/kg, while farmers with good-quality Angus cattle indicate that all-in prices are above 470p/kg.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers across all grades rose by 1.1p/kg to 446.37p/kg.
On U3 cattle, steers increased by 1.1p to 460p/kg, while heifers rose by 1.8p/kg to average 461.5p/kg.
Cows
Cull cows are a flying trade and quotes of 360p/kg for R3 animals are not even close to prices on offer.
Good cows are making 390p to 420p/kg, with O grading animals making 370p/kg simply to keep pace with the live ring.
NI sheep: weak demand sees hogget prices fall
The trade for fat hoggets has taken a knock this week and factory quotes are down to 510p/kg. At the 22kg weight limit, hoggets are now worth £112.20.
Prices paid in the marts were down by £6 to £7 as demand eases. In Gortin, hoggets at 24kg made £115.50, 23kg to £110 and 22kg to £108.
Kilrea saw an easier trade, selling 800 hoggets from 462p to 488p/kg. Hoggets at 22kg sold to £103.50, with 23kg at £108 and 24kg at £110.
In Markethill, 600 hoggets sold from 465p to 490p/kg. Hoggets at 24kg to 25kg made £111 to £117, with 22.5kg selling to £106.80.
Saintfield sold 575 hoggets from 460p to 500p/kg, down close on 30p/kg on last week. Heavy hoggets at 27kg made £118, 25kg to £116 and 24kg to £111 while 18kg made £90.
In Rathfriland, 594 hoggets sold from 450p to 494p/kg and averaged 475p/kg.
In Ballymena, £113 to £115 was paid for 24.5kg to 26kg, with £100 to £105 paid for 21kg to 22kg.
Ewes
Well-fleshed fat ewes are still a good trade. In Gortin, ewes made £117, with a big run from £106 to £114.
In Kilrea, top price was £246 and in Markethill, they made £95 to £129.
In Rathfriland, top was £172 and in Saintfield, it was £195, with the main run from £100 to £178.
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