The cattle trade is holding steady, with processing plants leaving official quotes unchanged.

This keeps U-3 grading cattle on a base quote of 358p/kg at the upper end of the market, although there are some plants with official quotes as low as 352p/kg.

Most farmers report price deals on offer are in line with last week.

This means the majority of animals are on an opening price of 360p/kg, with little more than an additional 2p/kg for farmers with limited numbers on offer.

Farmers selling bigger numbers or offloading animals on a more regular kill schedule report prices for steers in the region of 364p to 366p/kg, with heifers making upwards to 370p/kg.

Factory throughput last week increased by 510 head to 9,508, which is the highest weekly throughput since the week ending 8 February and the second-highest kill this year.

Prime cattle accounted for 6,962 head, a rise of 156 week on week. Cow throughput rose by 299 head to 2,277, which, again, is the second-highest kill for the year.

Imports of Irish cattle moving to northern plants for direct slaughter rose by 53 head to 593, of which 382 were prime animals and 202 were cows.

There were 97 animals moving in the opposite direction, mainly cull cows.

No cattle were exported for direct slaughter to plants in Britain, but 31 animals were imported to NI plants for processing.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers averaged 355.95p/kg across all grades, down 1p/kg.

The average price paid on U3 grading steers increased by 0.5p/kg to 365.9p/kg, while the average price paid on U3 heifers slipped by 0.7p/kg to 367.4p/kg.

Cows

Quotes on cull cows are steady at 280p/kg for R3 animals, with O+3 cows on 270p/kg. Deals of 290p to 300p/kg are on offer for good-quality suckler-bred cows, with younger cows in particular in strong demand.

Lamb trade

The trade for fat lamb has eased at processing plants and in the marts. Some plants have cut quotes by 15p to 430p/kg, while others are on 440p/kg, making a lamb worth £92.40.

In the marts, prices are down, despite lower numbers on offer. While the euro is very strong against sterling, bigger numbers and an easing in quotes at southern plants has dampened buying demand.

In Kilrea, 450 lambs sold from 390p to 422p/kg, down 12p/kg for heavier lambs. The best pen at 23kg made £93, with others pens making £87.50 to £89.50.

Massereene had a show of 926 lambs selling from 390p to 405p/kg, down 15p/kg on last week for the main weight range.

In Saintfield, a small show of 466 lambs sold from 385p to 425p/kg, down 15p/kg on last week. Top prices were £95 for 27kg and £92 for 24kg with a big run from £86 to £90/head.

Prices in Lisahally eased by £2/head. The heaviest lambs made £97, with a big run from £88 to £92/head.

In Rathfriland, 540 lambs sold from 385p to 457p/kg, with the sale average down 11p/kg to 412p/kg.

The trade for store lambs remains firm. In Ballymena, stores made £86 for Mules, £84 for Texels and £80 for Charollais.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes has also eased. Omagh sold ewes to £103, with Swatragh to £107 and Kilrea to £103.50. In Massereene, the top price was £104.

In Saintfield, top price was £110, with others at £102, £99 and £88. In Rathfriland, ewes made £120/head.

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