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Base quotes on prime cattle and cull cows continue to edge upwards, with some plants adding another 2p/kg on steers and heifers this week.
This brings U-3 grading animals to a base of 428p/kg. But as has been the case throughout the spring, it falls well below the prices on offer to farmers.
Factory agents state they are getting adequate numbers and meeting throughput for next week with little difficulty.
At the same time, the same plants have increased base prices and buying agents are reluctant to let cattle slip through their fingers.
Prices for in-spec steers continue to hover around the 440p/kg mark, with deals of 2p/kg more for bigger numbers and regular finishers.
Heifers are faring better and deals of 442p to 446p/kg are on offer for a steady supply of in-spec animals, similar to last week.
Young bulls are also rising in value and deals run from 430p to 440p/kg, with the higher prices reserved for animals meeting a tight carcase specification.
Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades rose by 1.9p to 427.1p/kg.
On U3 grading cattle, steers rose by 1.8p to 440.5p/kg, while heifers at the same grade increased by 1.9p to 442.3p/kg. Young bulls averaged 430.3p/kg, up 3.3p/kg on the previous week.
Beef prices are rising at pace in the Republic of Ireland, with some plants upping quotes by 20c/kg on heifers this week.
At the upper end of the market, U grading heifers are making €5.60 to €5.70/kg, which converts to a sterling price of 446p to 454p/kg.
This has slowed the flow of Irish cattle into local plants for direct slaughter, with just 278 moving north, down 80 head on the week.
Cows
Quotes on cows have risen by as much as 10p/kg, with 370p/kg on offer for R3 animals and 360p/kg for O+3 lots.
Good cows continue to make 380p to 400p/kg depending on quality.
NI sheep: spring lamb prices edging upwards
Supplies of spring lambs are increasing, but factory agents were finding it tight this week to meet throughput.
As such, mart prices rose by £5 to £10 or 650p/kg on offer, pushing factories to raise quotes by 15p/kg to 635p/kg. But more is on offer.
In Kilrea, 280 lambs sold to a top of 630p/kg for 20kg at £126. Lambs at 20kg made £125 (625p/kg) and £124 (620p/kg), with 22kg at £133 (605p/kg). Heavy lambs made £136 to £145 for 24kg to 26.5kg.
In Massereene, a show of 206 lambs sold to 624p/kg for 20.5kg at £128, 619p/kg for 21kg at £130, 618p/kg for 22.5kg at £139 and 614p for 21.5kg at £132.
Hoggets were a good trade, with £127 paid for 22kg.
In Saintfield, 525 lambs sold from 595p to 640p/kg, up 15p to 20p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs from 24kg to 30kg made from £137.50 to £147. Lambs at 22kg made £136, while 21kg made £129.
Rathfriland had a fantastic trade, selling 441 lambs from 600p to 651p/kg, with the sale average on 629p/kg, up by 41p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes has strengthened. In Kilrea, the top price was £178.
In Massereene, the top was £180 for Charollais, £165 for Rouge, £160 for Suffolk and £145 for Texels.
In Saintfield, the top was £215, with a big run from £146 to £182. In Rathfriland, the top was £204.
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