The beef trade remains positive, with factory agents keen to ringfence supplies of clean cattle. Processing demand is growing, as some plants operate kill lines over six days in the run-up to Christmas.
However, farmers should note that while factory agents are eager for stock and there are price deals to be had, they do not apply evenly across the board.
Farmers with a good supply of in-spec cattle are best placed to negotiate for higher prices, especially if animals can be consistently supplied over a number of weeks.
On the flip side, farmers with smaller numbers of animals that fall outside of market spec on conformation or carcase weight limits are finding agents less flexible on price.
Base quotes are generally unchanged this week. At the top end of the market, U-3 grading animals are on 428p/kg, while other processors remain on an official base of 414p/kg.
Reports indicate that in-spec steers are generally on 440p/kg, with regular finishers indicating 2p/kg more is available.
Heifers are faring best, with deals of 442p/kg common, while regular finishers indicate 446p/kg is available for butcher-type animals.
There are once again sporadic reports of 450p/kg being paid at the top end of the market, although the numbers changing hands at this level are small and a tight specification applies.
Young bulls remain a hard sell, with most reports around 430p to 432p/kg, while cattle supplied under premium breed schemes are being priced from official quotes.
Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades was marginally lower at 427.79p/kg.
On U3 grading cattle, steers rose by 1.6p/kg to average 440.4p/kg, while heifers at the same grade increased by 0.5p/kg to average 442.9p/kg.
Cows
Quotes on cull cows have eased to 360p/kg for R3 animals, as processors give priority on kill lines to prime cattle. Deals on good-quality suckler types range from 370p to 380p/kg depending on quality.
NI sheep: deals on price and carcase weight available
Buying agents working for southern plants are much more active in sourcing lambs this week, helping prices in the marts to edge upwards.
There have also been moves on carcase weight, with deals payable to 22kg deadweight.
Factory quotes are 515p/kg at 21kg deadweight or 500p/kg at 22kg, but deals are running well above these levels.
In Kilrea, 800 lambs sold from 452p to 506p/kg, up 25p/kg for lighter lots, with 500p/kg for 22kg at £110.
In Massereene, 816 head made 455p to 494p/kg, up 5p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs from 26kg to 30kg made from £114 to £117. Lambs at 25kg sold to £113.50, with 24kg to £112 and 23kg to £107.
The trade in Saintfield was steady, with 715 lambs selling from 450p to 525p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lots.
Lambs at 28kg made £120, 24kg to £113.50, 23kg to £103.50, with 22kg to £101. The best light lambs at 19kg made £93, with 17kg at £85.
In Rathfriland, 713 lambs sold from 450p to 525p/kg, with the sale average on 470p/kg, up 5p/kg.
In Ballymena, 24kg lambs made £108 to £110. Heavy lambs at 32kg made £118, with lighter sorts at 20kg making £96.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes has steadied. In Kilrea, the top price was £127. Massereene sold ewes to £120 for Suffolks, £110 for Hampshires, £105 for Texels and £100 for Dorsets. In Saintfield, top was £145, with others from £104 to £132. In Rathfriland, ewes sold to £178.
Read more
Chinese sheepmeat imports running over 70,000t lower in 2022
Advance fodder scheme payments to be paid in December
The beef trade remains positive, with factory agents keen to ringfence supplies of clean cattle. Processing demand is growing, as some plants operate kill lines over six days in the run-up to Christmas.
However, farmers should note that while factory agents are eager for stock and there are price deals to be had, they do not apply evenly across the board.
Farmers with a good supply of in-spec cattle are best placed to negotiate for higher prices, especially if animals can be consistently supplied over a number of weeks.
On the flip side, farmers with smaller numbers of animals that fall outside of market spec on conformation or carcase weight limits are finding agents less flexible on price.
Base quotes are generally unchanged this week. At the top end of the market, U-3 grading animals are on 428p/kg, while other processors remain on an official base of 414p/kg.
Reports indicate that in-spec steers are generally on 440p/kg, with regular finishers indicating 2p/kg more is available.
Heifers are faring best, with deals of 442p/kg common, while regular finishers indicate 446p/kg is available for butcher-type animals.
There are once again sporadic reports of 450p/kg being paid at the top end of the market, although the numbers changing hands at this level are small and a tight specification applies.
Young bulls remain a hard sell, with most reports around 430p to 432p/kg, while cattle supplied under premium breed schemes are being priced from official quotes.
Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades was marginally lower at 427.79p/kg.
On U3 grading cattle, steers rose by 1.6p/kg to average 440.4p/kg, while heifers at the same grade increased by 0.5p/kg to average 442.9p/kg.
Cows
Quotes on cull cows have eased to 360p/kg for R3 animals, as processors give priority on kill lines to prime cattle. Deals on good-quality suckler types range from 370p to 380p/kg depending on quality.
NI sheep: deals on price and carcase weight available
Buying agents working for southern plants are much more active in sourcing lambs this week, helping prices in the marts to edge upwards.
There have also been moves on carcase weight, with deals payable to 22kg deadweight.
Factory quotes are 515p/kg at 21kg deadweight or 500p/kg at 22kg, but deals are running well above these levels.
In Kilrea, 800 lambs sold from 452p to 506p/kg, up 25p/kg for lighter lots, with 500p/kg for 22kg at £110.
In Massereene, 816 head made 455p to 494p/kg, up 5p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs from 26kg to 30kg made from £114 to £117. Lambs at 25kg sold to £113.50, with 24kg to £112 and 23kg to £107.
The trade in Saintfield was steady, with 715 lambs selling from 450p to 525p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lots.
Lambs at 28kg made £120, 24kg to £113.50, 23kg to £103.50, with 22kg to £101. The best light lambs at 19kg made £93, with 17kg at £85.
In Rathfriland, 713 lambs sold from 450p to 525p/kg, with the sale average on 470p/kg, up 5p/kg.
In Ballymena, 24kg lambs made £108 to £110. Heavy lambs at 32kg made £118, with lighter sorts at 20kg making £96.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes has steadied. In Kilrea, the top price was £127. Massereene sold ewes to £120 for Suffolks, £110 for Hampshires, £105 for Texels and £100 for Dorsets. In Saintfield, top was £145, with others from £104 to £132. In Rathfriland, ewes sold to £178.
Read more
Chinese sheepmeat imports running over 70,000t lower in 2022
Advance fodder scheme payments to be paid in December
SHARING OPTIONS