After various threats to pull prices last week, quotes for fat cattle have steadied this week. The best quote is at 624p for U3 grade steers and 628p for U-3 grade heifers.

The actual prices on offer remain in the mid-650s, with slightly more for anyone with numbers to sell, especially butcher-type heifers.

Last week, the average price paid for U and R grading cattle was little changed on the previous week. U3 steers averaged 654.5p/kg with U3 heifers at 656.5p/kg. Across all steers and heifers, prices averaged 645.3p/kg, down 1.3p on the previous week.

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Weekly kill

Numbers of finished cattle remain reasonably tight and that is reflected in the weekly cattle kill, which ended last week at 9,471, down over 600 head on the 10,089 of the previous week and the lowest weekly kill since early September. Last week’s kill included 2,266 cows and 6,921 clean cattle.

In the same week in 2024, there were 11,773 cattle slaughtered, of which 2,821 were cows and 8,727 were clean cattle.

Some of that year-on-year difference is due to fewer imports for direct slaughter in NI from the Republic of Ireland.

Last week, just 293 were imported, compared with 782 in the same week in 2024.

The lower imports are due to a strong beef market in ROI, where tight numbers continue to drive prices higher. Last week, prices were up by the sterling equivalent of around 10p/kg.

Reports suggest ROI prices have moved on again this week, with potentially an extra 10c to 15c/kg on offer, which would take the trade close to NI prices.

In Britain, the market is also robust, with prices paid for steers and heifers generally up by 2p to 4p/kg across various grades and leaving prices paid for U and R grades about 4p ahead of NI.

Cows

Fat cow quotes are also steady at NI plants, with the best quote for an O+ cow at 535p/kg.

Significantly more is available for well-fleshed suckler cows, with R3 grades last week averaging 569.4p/kg and R4s at 560.4p/kg.

The prices paid last week for P grading cows were little changed, with P2s at 511.7p and P3 grades at 528.8p/kg.

NI sheep: lamb prices at 630p/kg

Quotes for fat lambs have slipped at one plant, with the best now at 630p/kg for 22kg, making a lamb worth £138.60 at the limit.

In the marts, prices bid for fat lambs fell by up to 20p/kg at the start of the week, although store prices remain strong.

In Gortin, heavy lambs at 25.1kg made to £151, with 23kg to £139.

Kilrea sold 800 head from 580p to 685p/kg, down by 11p on last week for heavier lambs. Stores led the way, with 685p for 17kg at £166.50 and 658p for 19kg at £125. Lambs at 22kg made to 589p at £129.50, with 23kg to 587p at £135/head.

In Markethill, 875 lambs sold from 580p to 655p, down 20p for heavier sorts. The 655p was for 20kg at £131, with 643p also for 20kg at £128. Heavier lambs at 25kg made from £137 to £158, with 24kg from £131 to £135.

Store lambs were a strong trade, with 775p paid for 15.3kg at £118.50 and 763p for 15.2kg at £116.

Saintfield had a steady trade. Heavies from 27kg to 29kg made from £137 to £150/head. Stores sold well, with 15kg at £114 and 18kg at £120.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top for fat ewes was £220 and in Kilrea it was £192.

In Markethill, top prices were £218 and £208, with a run from £150 to £204/head. Plainer sorts sold to £95.

In Saintfield, the best Suffolks made £214, with Texels from £188 to £202 and Charollais at £195/head.