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Base quotes have increased by as much as 4p/kg at several plants this week, and while there are plenty of price deals on offer, the higher base is basically bringing quotes back in line with prices being paid.
Official factory quotes now start from 326p/kg, rising to 330p/kg for U-3 grading cattle.
Although the Christmas kill has finished, and processing demand has eased on previous weeks, there is still plenty of life in the beef trade.
Cattle agents have been more active this week, with the focus on securing enough cattle to fill orders over Christmas.
Some agents indicate that the bulk of supply is currently coming from specialist finishers, as numbers offered from smaller finishers starts to tail off.
Where cattle are being offloaded, prices are broadly on par to previous weeks. Farmers with in-spec steers and heifers are again faring best when negotiating for higher prices.
Young bulls are generally moving at 330p/kg for under-16-month-old animals and below 400kg carcase weight
Farmers report that steers are generally moving from 336p/kg to 338p/kg, with some deals being done at 340p/kg to 342p/kg when bigger numbers are offered.
Heifers are moving anywhere from 342p to 344p/kg for good-quality butcher-type animals. Out-of-spec animals are being held at base prices.
Young bulls are generally moving at 330p/kg for under-16-month-old animals and below 400kg carcase weight.
Last week, the average price paid for steers and heifers averaged 329.26p/kg, up 0.8p/kg on the previous week.
The average price paid for U3 steers fell by 1.9p to 337.6p/kg, while U3 heifers eased by 0.6p to 342p/kg.
Young bulls jumped by more than 7p to 329.6p/kg for U3 grading animals.
Imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter at NI plants was relatively unchanged on 352 head, with 38 animals moving in the opposite direction.
Cows
Quotes for cows are unchanged, with R3 animals on 260p/kg, while O+3 cows remain on 250p/kg.
Lamb trade
The fat lamb trade has improved this week, with local factories adding 5p and 10p/kg to base quotes.
The best quote is at 400p/kg for 22kg deadweight, making a lamb worth £88. Prices paid in the marts are also up by between 5p/kg and 15p/kg.
In Kilrea, 500 lambs sold from 336p/kg to 378p/kg, up by 12p/kg for lighter lambs.
In Saintfield, 630 lambs sold from 350p to 441p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lots. Lighter store lambs sold from 400p/kg to 441p/kg
Massereene had a show of 936 lambs selling from 365p to 388p/kg, up by 15p/kg for heavier lots and 8p/kg for lighter sorts.
Southern buyers were active, buying most of the lambs on offer. Lambs from 27kg to 29kg made £89 to £91.
Lambs at 22kg to 23kg made £86 to £87.50. The best pen at 22kg made £85.50, or 388p/kg.
In Saintfield, 630 lambs sold from 350p to 441p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lots. Lighter store lambs sold from 400p/kg to 441p/kg.
Rathfriland had a show of 458 lambs and trade was good. They sold from 340p/kg to 428p/kg and averaged 375p/kg, up 10p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade has improved, with higher top prices in most marts. The top in Omagh was £106, while Swatragh sold ewes to £105/head. In Massereene, the top was £154 for a purebred Texel, with next best at £109. In Saintfield and Rathfriland, a strong trade saw tops of £130/head and £129/head respectively.
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