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With local factories focusing on sourcing cattle for the Christmas trade, priority on kill lines is being given to prime cattle.
This puts farmers with a good supply of in-spec animals in a stronger position to negotiate for higher prices.
At the same time, farmers with out-of-spec cattle and cows with a strong dairy influence are likely to find that bargaining on price will be much more difficult.
Supplies are generally tight and factory agents are heavily dependent on larger, specialist finishers to meet throughput.
This is keeping the trade relatively steady with little movement on quotes and price deals from previous weeks.
Base quotes
Base quotes for prime cattle generally remain on 426p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
As has been the case for several weeks, steers are opening around 10p/kg above quotes, with most reports putting price deals at 438p to 440p/kg for more regular finishers.
The availability of prime heifers is limited and farmers have scope to push for higher prices. Deals of 440p and 442p/kg are being commonly reported, with 2p to 4p/kg more on offer for a steady supply of heifers over the next month.
Young bulls are somewhat of a two-tier trade. On one hand, factories are paying 430p to 432p/kg, while, at the same time, there are deals matching steer prices for bulls meeting certain weight limits.
Last week, the average price paid for steers and heifers across all conformation was marginally higher at 426.35p/kg.
On U3 grading cattle, prices recorded on steers was fractionally higher at 438.6p/kg, while heifers eased by 1.3p/kg to average 441.1p/kg. Young bulls at the same grade improved by 1p/kg at 430.4p/kg.
Cows
Demand for cull cows remains robust, with factory quotes for R3 animals on 365p/kg. Deals are generally running around the 380p/kg mark, which is broadly in line with the live ring. Higher prices are easier to secure on young cows with no dairy influence.
NI sheep: fat lamb prices edging upwards
Throughput in the live ring has slowed this week and combined with an increase in demand from buying agents for Irish plants, prices are up by £3 to £5.
Factory quotes have also increased by 5p to 515p/kg, making lambs worth £108.50 for 21kg deadweight.
In Kilrea, 980 lambs sold from 457p to 500p, up 13p to 18p/kg on last week. Lambs at 23.5kg made £112 with 22kg at £105.
In Massereene, 787 lambs sold from 460p to 488p/kg, up 7p/kg for heavier lambs. Lambs at 21kg made £102.50, 23kg at £111.50, with heavy lots at 35 kg making £120 to £125, 27.5kg to £117.50, 25.5kg to £116.50 and 24kg to £112.
In Saintfield, 550 lambs sold from 460p to 543p/kg, up by 12p to 18p/kg. Prices reached £119 for lambs at 30kg, £117 for 26kg, 24kg to £115, 23kg to £109 and 22kg to £102.
In Rathfriland, 754 lambs sold from 460p to 535p/kg, with the sale average of 476p/kg, up 13p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The trade in fat ewes is steady this week. In Kilrea, the top price was £146. Massereene sold ewes to £132 for Texels, £113 for Charollais, £100 for Suffolks and £95 for Mules.
In Saintfield, top price was £150, with others in the range £100 to £138. In Rathfriland, top was £158.
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