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After three weeks of downward price pressure, the beef trade has steadied this week, with processing plants leaving quotes unchanged.
This keeps U-3 grading animals at the upper end of the range of base quotes on 356p to 358p/kg. However, most farmers indicate that 360p/kg is available as a starting price for prime cattle.
An extremely strong live trade has halted processors from making further price cuts. At sales over the past week, good-quality U grading cattle continue to average 220p/kg, which equates to a beef price in the region of 380p/kg.
There have been reports that with processors talking the trade down, more farmers are opting to sell cattle in the live ring and capitalise on the higher prices available.
Where farmers are offloading cattle direct for slaughter, prices are on par with last week. This keeps steers moving from 360p to 362p/kg for farmers with limited numbers.
Larger sellers are offloading animals in the region of 366p/kg to 368p/kg, with heifers moving at similar prices.
Animals falling outside of the market specifications for the UK retail market are a much harder sell and, again, many farmers are moving these animals through the live ring to maximise sale value.
Last week, the national cattle kill rose by 350 head to 9,098, of which 6,806 animals were prime and 1,978 were cows.
Imports of slaughter cattle from the Republic of Ireland rose to 539, the highest import figure for four weeks.
For the first time in five weeks, cattle moved from NI to slaughter plants in Britain, with 39 animals exported.
With a price differential of almost 40p/kg opening between NI and Scotland, there is growing interest for short-keep stores moving to Scottish feedlots.
Cows
Prices for cull cows are steady, with base quotes for R3 grading animals holding on 280p/kg, while O+3 grading cows remain on 270p/kg. Price deals for good-quality beef cows are holding at 290p to 300p/kg.
Lamb trade
The number of fat lambs presented in marts across NI was down week on week and prices have edged back slightly. Factory quotes are either steady or back 5p/kg, to 445p/kg, making lambs worth £93.45 at the 21kg carcase limit.
In Kilrea, 520 lambs sold from 402p to 413p/kg, unchanged for the main weight range.
Massereene sold 1,067 lambs from 405p to 440p/kg, down 5p/kg on last week. Lambs sold to £102 for 27kg, £101.5 for 26kg, £98.5 for 24kg and £88 for 21kg.
Saintfield sold 724 lambs from 400p to 450p/kg, down 10p/kg on last week. Top prices were £100 for 27kg and £98 for 25kg, with a big run from £91 to £96.50/head.
Trade in Lisahally was down £2/head. The heaviest lambs made £98, with a big run at £92 and £93/head.
In Rathfriland, 700 lambs made 390p to 492p/kg, with the sale average of 423p/kg down 7p/kg on the week.
Store lambs in Ballymena made £85/head for Texels, with Suffolks and Dorsets to £83 and Mules to £80.
Ewes
Well-fleshed fat ewes are a great trade. Omagh sold ewes to £118, Swatragh to £146 and Kilrea to £105. In Massereene, top prices were £106 and £100 for Suffolks. In Saintfield, top was £146 with others from £120 to £138. In Rathfriland, ewes topped £118/head.
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