A combination of a good supply of cattle off farms and a dull trade in beef has given control of prices to the factory buyers and they have applied cuts of 4p/kg to steer quotes.

This puts U-3 steer quotes at 312p/kg. Heifer quotes have been cut also, by 2p and 4p, and the best quote is 314p/kg, with others at 312p/kg.

There are some suggestions that numbers might be starting to tighten a little.

Farmers report that they are able to get cattle killed next week, although at this stage the prices on offer remain uncertain.

That is linked to what was effectively the end of the Christmas trade last week.

Factory sales people are now turning their attention to the post-Christmas market, which can be more difficult.

The situation in NI has not been helped by strong supplies of finished cattle.

A total of 9,543 cattle were killed last week, the largest weekly kill so far this year. The clean cattle kill of 7,080 was the largest since January 2015.

Despite the big kill, the actual prices paid were little changed from the week before.

Steers were up slightly to average 311.7p/kg, while heifers were back slightly to average 315.66p/kg.

Deals well ahead of quotes are currently difficult to secure.

The number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week was 455 head, similar to the previous week.

Trade in the opposite direction halved to 180 head. Trade across to GB was 327 head, up somewhat on the previous two weeks.

Prices there remain steady, with top quotes around 350p/kg on offer for local cattle taken across the Irish sea.

Quotes for cows have fallen again, this time by 10p/kg. This puts the quote for an O+ grade at 230p/kg.

However, one plant is still quoting 250p for U and R grade cows.

Lamb trade

Quotes for lambs at the plants have firmed this week and are up 5p at 330p for up to 22kg. The 330p quote values a lamb at £72.60 at the 22kg limit.

In the marts, there were more lambs on offer and prices were edging back by midweek.

In Kilrea, a show of 650 lambs sold from 284p to 298p, up 4p/kg for the main weight range.

Massereene sold 1,102 head from 290p to 318p, no change on last week.

In Saintfield, a show of 606 sold from 275p to 325p, down 5p to 10p/kg. Well-fleshed lambs at 24kg and 25kg were a good trade, making £70 to £72. However, lighter lambs were easier.

Rathfriland sold 970 lambs from 269p to 347p, up 3p for heavier lambs. However, the average was 289p, which was down 6p on last week.

In Ballymena, Wednesday, there was a big show with 110 pens and around 1,500 lambs.

The trade was similar to the previous two weeks. Early lots were making £72/head for 25kg, £70 for 24kg and £68 for 23.5kg.

The prices for fat ewes were mostly steady in the marts, although Kilrea and Rathfriland were down. Top prices were £87 in Newtownstewart, £76 in Swatragh, £95 in Omagh for a big show of 367 head, £70 in Kilrea, £90 in Massereene, £80 in Saintfield and £89 in Rathfriland for a show of only 83 head.