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After a brief period of upward price momentum, the cattle trade has steadied this week, with plants leaving base quotes unchanged.
Prime cattle remain on a base of 332p to 338p/kg for U-3 grading animals, but speaking to finishers at Balmoral Show, reports indicate that 338p to 340p/kg is widely available as a starting price on steers, with 2p to 4p/kg more available for regular sellers and those with bigger numbers.
Farmers with suckler-bred bulls under 16 months of age that meet market specifications on carcase weight and conformation are securing price deals which are similar to steers.
Finishers with bigger numbers to offer have reported heifers selling to 350p/kg at the upper end of the market
Heifers remain a valuable commodity and, as in previous weeks, farmers with a steady supply of in-spec animals coming on to the market have some scope to bargain on price.
Deals of 346p to 348p/kg have been reported on prime heifers. Finishers with bigger numbers to offer have reported heifers selling to 350p/kg at the upper end of the market.
Prices south of the border are also hardening, with larger finishers being rewarded with improved price deals of €3.90 to €4/kg, which converts to a sterling equivalent of 335p to 344p/kg.
In Britain, prices are slowly edging upwards, with R4L steers averaging 359p/kg last week, up 1.8p/kg on the previous week.
Prices in Scotland remain in the mid-360p/kg price range for R and U grading animals.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers increased marginally to 336.25p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers was also marginally higher at 342.5p/kg, while heifers were down slightly to 346.7p/kg.
Cows
While prices on prime cattle have steadied, there is still a keen edge to the cull cow trade, with wholesalers very competitive on good-quality beef-bred animals. Base quotes remain on 240p to 252p/kg for O+3 grading animals. Quotes on R grade cows are 260p/kg, with higher deals on offer.
Hogget and lamb trade
The sheep trade has come under pressure this week, with meat plants north and south of the Irish border reducing base quotes.
The supply of spring lambs coming on to the market is increasing rapidly and processors are struggling to handle numbers.
Hoggets are still being forwarded for slaughter, but quality is extremely variable and processing demand is easing.
With lower prices being paid in the live trade this week and southern plants pulling quotes, northern plants were reluctant to quote this week, with one plant announcing it will not be quoting until Monday.
On Saturday, there was an entry of 1,000 sheep at Swatragh Mart, with fat lambs making £104 for heavy lots, whereas lambs weighing 22.5kg made £95.
On Tuesday, Rathfriland sold 351 lambs from 392p to 425p/kg, with a sale average of 400p/kg.
Midweek sale reports indicate that prices are down by £5 to £6/head on the previous week.
Ewes
While lamb prices are under pressure, fat ewes are a firm trade. Masserene sold 194 ewes to a top of £119, with Swatragh selling 400 ewes to £144.
Omagh sold 152 ewes to £107, with Newtownstewart selling 78 ewes to £100. Kilrea sold ewes to £90, with the trade in Saintfield making £85, while Rathfriland sold 203 ewes to a top of £100.
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