One of the factories has put 2p on its base steer quote, putting it to 328p/kg, with other factories at 326p/kg for U-3 grades. Quotes for heifers are unchanged at 328p/kg.

The trade is finely balanced, with finished cattle numbers remaining reasonably tight and farmers reporting that they can still do deals up to 10p/kg ahead of base quotes.

However, factory agents maintain that beef sales are slow, so there is no great appetite for higher numbers.

The trade is not helped by recent poor summer weather. It will be a significant test when more numbers of grass-fed cattle start to appear.

Ideally, this will occur in an orderly fashion, rather than a flush of cattle driven out by wet ground conditions. Slow sales has meant that one factory is now down to a three-day week. However, there are reports that demand remains strong for traditional breeds, in particular Angus cattle.

In terms of the prices paid last week, they continued to edge up, with steers and heifers averaging 324.6p/kg.

U3 grade steers averaged 335.2p/kg and heifers 336.4p/kg.

The trade in Britain has moved on slightly more, with the differential in prices now around 15p/kg for the better conformation grades. The number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week increased to 227 head, the highest weekly figure since March. Trade in the opposite direction has dropped to 119. The trade across to Britain for slaughter was only 38 head.

Cow trade

The cow trade shows no change this week, with the best quote for an O+3 grade cow at 250p/kg, with others quoting 245p and 240p/kg. Best quote for an R grade is 255p/kg. However, the actual prices paid continue to be well ahead of these quotes, with R3 grade cows at 269.2p/kg last week.

Lamb trade

The lamb trade has taken a severe knock this week, with quotes in the factories down 20p to 365p. This makes a lamb worth only £76.65 at 21kg. But based on the very good trade in Rathfriland on Tuesday evening, farmers should be pushing for a much better quote before selling.

There is no big rush in the marts, with numbers lower than last week.

Kilrea had 100 lambs fewer, with a show of 396 lambs. However, prices were down by 32p to 40p/kg at 318p to 327p/kg.

Massereene had a show of 947 head, 20 less than last week, making from 325p to 355p/kg, down by 15p to 20p/kg.

Saintfield had 140 fewer head, with 544 lambs selling from 325p to 368p/kg, unchanged for most weights, but down by 7p/kg for lighter lambs.

Rathfriland had 450 fewer lambs and 685 lambs sold to average 348p, up 5p. Lambs at 24kg made from £85 to £91/head. Lambs at 21kg to 22kg made from £75 to £79. Good store lambs at 16kg to 18kg made £52 to £60.

The trade in fat ewes is strong and top prices were up in some marts. Top in Newtownstewart was £89/head, Swatragh £83, Omagh £118, Kilrea £80 and Massereene and Saintfield both £90.

In Rathfriland, the top Texels made £128 and £121, with crossbreds at £99 and £88.