Base quotes on prime cattle have increased by 2p/kg at the upper end of the market, with 430p/kg on offer for U-3 grading animals as processors feel the effect of supplies tightening.

Processors state fewer cattle are required to fill orders and that beef sales are slow. However, this differs to what is happening on the ground.

Reports indicate prime cattle are harder to come by and factories are relying heavily on cull cows and dairy-bred beef animals to maintain throughput.

Farmers with cattle coming fit for slaughter also indicate they are getting calls from factory agents looking for stock.

There is also little sign of any delay in getting animals processed, with farmers booking cattle in the past seven days seeing animals move for slaughter within two to three days at most.

Farmers are well placed to negotiate for higher prices, particularly with a vibrant live ring returning over 450p/kg for animals possessing higher levels of conformation.

Deals on prime steers have improved, with 444p/kg widely available and 446p/kg to 448p/kg on offer to regular finishers handling bigger numbers.

Heifers are making 446p/kg, but 450p/kg is available in return for a steady supply of animals on a regular basis.

Some factories continue to work from much lower base quotes and this is curtailing the value of cattle sold though premium breed schemes.

As a result, some mart managers indicate they are seeing more slaughter-fit animals with native breeding sold in the live ring to increase returns.

Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades rose by 0.7p/kg to 430.5p/kg. On U3 animals, steers rose by 2.3p to 444.5p/kg, while heifers fell 1.5p to 445.8p/kg.

Cows

With cull cows being used to bolster throughput, prices are also rising, with quotes up 4p/kg to 350p/kg for R3 animals. However, deals start at 360p/kg and run upwards to 380p/kg for top-quality young beef-bred cows.

NI sheep: fat lambs hold firm

Fat lambs remain a solid trade, despite some sales seeing an easing in price at the start of the week. But prices improved by midweek.

Factory quotes remain on 525p/kg to 22kg deadweight, making a lamb worth £115.50. But in reality, factory lambs are making 540p/kg and above.

In Kilrea, 800 lambs sold from 474p to 521p/kg, down 10p/kg for lighter lots. Lambs at 24kg sold to £115.50.

Massereene sold 615 lambs from 461p to 490p/kg, down 30p/kg on last week. Lambs at 24.5kg made £120, 21.5kg at £103.50, 30kg made £118, with 27.5kg at £127.

The trade in Saintfield was easier, with 660 lambs sold from 470p to 510p/kg, down 10p to 20p/kg. Heavy lambs at 26kg made £119, 25kg to £118 and 24kg to £117.

The best lighter lambs at 22kg sold to £110, with 21kg to £105.50 and 20kg at £100/head.

Rathfriland sold 462 lambs from 454p to 529p/kg, with the sale average of 492p/kg up 7p/kg.

In Ballymena, 26kg made £120.50, with fed lambs at 25kg making £122. Lambs at 23kg made £110 to £113.

Store lambs in Ballymena are a very firm trade, with the best Texel lots making £102.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes eased on Monday in Kilrea, with the top price on £145.

Massereene sold to £120 for Suffolks and Dutch Spotted, with £110 for Texels.

In Saintfield, the trade was firmer, with a top price of £188 and others from £101 to £165.

In Rathfriland, a great Texel ewe made £300, with others making £192.

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