There is more life in the beef trade this week, as factory agents become more active for prime cattle, particularly in-spec heifers which are limited in availability.

As such, farmers with a good supply of heifers to offload are in a strong position to negotiate for higher prices.

Such is the eagerness to secure heifers, factory agents are offering deals well above the levels paid in recent weeks.

Farmers report prices starting around 442p/kg, but where bigger numbers are on offer, deals of 444p/kg and 446p/kg are common.

There have been sporadic reports of deals running upwards to 450p/kg at the top of the market, but this is generally confined to butcher-type heifers meeting a tight specification on carcase weight and conformation.

Reports generally indicate that wholesalers are setting the pace for heifers, but some of the larger plants are keeping pace on price.

Steers are a steadier trade, with most price deals broadly in line with recent weeks at 438p to 440p/kg, although some deals are being made at 442p/kg in lieu of higher prices on heifers.

Officially, processors have left base prices unchanged, which means the top end of quotes remain on 426p/kg for U-3 grading animals.

While prime cattle are running well above quotes, farmers with bulls, plainer stock and out-of-spec animals are finding it more difficult to negotiate above this level.

Cattle processed under premium breed schemes are being priced rigidly from official base quotes.

Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades rose by 1.6p to 427.91p/kg. On U3 steers, prices edged upwards by 0.2p/kg to average 438.8p/kg while heifers jumped 1.3p to 442.4p/kg.

Cows

There has been some movement on quotes for cull cows, as some plants reduce throughput to concentrate on prime cattle. The best quote remains on 365p/kg for R3 animals, with deals of 370p to 380p/kg available, depending on quality.

NI sheep: lamb prices holding firm as numbers increase

There were more lambs on offer in the live ring this week and prices slipped by 10p/kg or £2 to £3/head.

Factories have left quotes at 515p/kg, making a lamb worth £108.50 for 21kg deadweight.

In Kilrea, 1,080 lambs sold from 452p to 478p/kg, down 5p/kg for heavier lots.

In Massereene, 630 head made 450p to 486p/kg, down 10p/kg for heavier lots. Lambs at 22kg made £107, £111 for 23.5kg, with heavy lots at 27kg to £116.50, 26kg to £114, 25kg to £113, 24kg to £109 and 23kg to £107.

The trade in Saintfield was slightly easier, with 735 lambs selling from 445p to 525p/kg, down 15p/kg on last week. Lambs at 26kg made £113.50, 25kg and 24kg made £111, 22kg to £103 and 18kg to 19kg to £90.

In Rathfriland, a show of 866 lambs sold from 445p to 532p/kg, averaging 465p/kg, down 11p/kg on last week.

In Ballymena on Wednesday morning, the trade was steady, with a big run of 25kg lambs making to £112, 29.5kg made £115.50, with 21.5kg to £104 and 22.5kg at £109.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes has eased slightly in most of the marts. In Kilrea, top price was £124. Massereene sold to a top of £110 for Charollais, £100 for Clun Forest, £95 for Suffolks, £90 for Texels and £88 for Mules.

In Saintfield, top price was £138, with others from £90 to £128. However, Rathfriland saw a strong trade for well-fleshed Texel ewes at £222 up to a top of £240.