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The beef trade is holding relatively firm on the back of strong processing demand for in-spec animals. However, there is a wider range of price deals on offer this week, with reports of more cattle becoming available for slaughter.
The wet weather over the weekend has seen more cattle being offloaded, partly off grass and from sheds to free up housing space for other grazing cattle.
With cattle agents able to source animals with greater ease, processing plants have left base quotes unchanged on 354p to 360p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
The positive for farmers is that higher supplies have not undermined prices to any extent. Reports indicate that farmers selling limited numbers are being offered little more than 362p to 364p/kg this week. In contrast, farmers killing animals on a regular supply arrangement are faring much better, commanding prices of 366p to 370p/kg for in-spec animals.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers across all grades rose by 0.84p to 358.58p/kg
At the upper end of the market, finishers with bigger numbers of prime cattle are reporting price deals in the region of 372p to 376p/kg for in-spec animals, when premiums are included.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers across all grades rose by 0.84p to 358.58p/kg, although the average price paid on U3 steers recorded a marginal dip of 0.2p to 367p/kg.
On U3 grading heifers, there was a sharper drop of 3.3p to an average of 368.4p/kg, while young bulls rose by 2.6p to 360p/kg for U3 animals.
Irish cattle imported to local plants for direct slaughter totalled 736 head, of which 462 were prime cattle and 274 were cull cows. Imports of slaughter cattle from Britain amounted to 31 cows, with no animals exported in the opposite direction.
Cows
Base quotes on cull cows are unchanged on 280p/kg for R3 grading animals, although reports indicate there is more life in the trade. Deals of 300p/kg are becoming more widely available for farmers with good-quality cows to offer.
Lamb trade
The live trade for fat lambs is solid, with some marts showing small increases in prices. Quotes at processing plants are 435p/kg, a rise of 5p/kg in one case, making a lamb worth £91.35.
In Kilrea, 430 lambs sold from 392p to 413p/kg, up 5p/kg for heavier lots. Good pens at 23.5kg made £90.50 to £93. Heavy lambs at 26.5kg made £95. The main run sold from £88 to £91, with light lambs at 20kg making £78.
Trade in Lisahally was steady
Massereene had a show of 806 lambs which sold from 390p to 410p/kg, no change on last week for the main weight range, but down slightly for lighter lambs.
In Saintfield, a smaller show of 420 lambs sold from 390p to 508p, up by 8p/kg. Lambs at 25kg made £96, with 23kg making £89 and 22kg making £87. Store lambs at 14kg were very dear, selling to £70.50.
Trade in Lisahally was steady, with the top price of £95 for 25kg. Lambs averaging 24kg made £90.10.
In Rathfriland, 803 lambs sold from 380p to 490p/kg, down only slightly on last week.
Ewes
The trade in fat ewes has held up well, with good top prices on offer. Omagh sold to £103, Swatragh to £118 and Kilrea to £102/head. In Massereene, top price was £104.
In Saintfield, heavy ewes made £138 to £146, with plenty making £80 to £108. In Rathfriland, top price was £111/head.
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