Downward pressure continues to mount in the beef trade and delays are building in getting cattle processed. Most reports indicate that farmers are waiting around two weeks in moving cattle to slaughter, with several cattle agents reporting that delays are unlikely to shorten anytime soon.

Base quotes are down 2p/kg this week, which puts U-3 grading animals on prices ranging from 324p to 334p/kg.

However, with delays in getting cattle processed, cattle agents are reluctant to commit to a price so far in advance of slaughter date.

Heifers killed earlier this week were still moving from a base of 336p/kg

Prices reported on cattle killed earlier this week indicate that steers and young bulls are still moving at 334p to 336p/kg. Finishers moving larger numbers are faring better on price.

Heifers killed earlier this week were still moving from a base of 336p/kg, with more on offer for finishers supplying animals on a weekly arrangement.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 3.5p/kg to 332.94p/kg. The average price paid on U3 grading steers fell by 1.3p/kg.

While local prices are generally on a downward curve, they are still running ahead of the EU average

However, the average price paid on U3 grading heifers bucked this downward trend, with a 2.3p/kg increase to 394.1p/kg. This partly reflects the volume of cattle coming from larger and specialist finishers at present.

While local prices are generally on a downward curve, they are still running ahead of the EU average. The EU average on U3 steers was 339.3p/kg last week, with U3 heifers on 347.3p/kg.

Imports of slaughter cattle from south of the border totalled 75 last week, with 59 animals moving in the opposite direction. Imports of slaughter cattle from Britain totalled 131, with 34 cattle moving from NI to plants in Britain.

Cows

The cull trade is also under pressure, with several plants cutting base quotes by 5p to 6p/kg. This puts R3 grading cows on a top quote of 255p/kg with O+3 cows on 245p/kg.

Lamb trade

The lamb trade is holding firm this week, with a base of 435p/kg on offer at the plants. This makes a lamb worth £91.35 at the 21kg weight limit. However, there are more lambs on offer and mart prices are similar to, or down slightly on, last week.

In Kilrea, 480 lambs sold from 410p to 449p/kg, up by 13p/kg for lighter lambs.

In Massereene, 686 lambs sold from 400p to 447p/kg, down by 10p/kg for heavier lambs and down 3p/kg for lighter lots.

In Saintfield, 605 good-quality lambs made 396p to 433p/kg, but the trade was back by £1 on last week. Texel lambs sold to £96 for 26kg lots, with £95 paid for 24.7kg lambs and £90 for a pen of 40 Texels weighing 21.6kg.

The trade in Rathfriland was back slightly, with 858 lambs making 390p to 421p/kg at an average of 411p/kg, down by 11p/kg on last week.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade is steady, with top prices of £100 or more on offer. Omagh sold to a top of £101/head and in Swatragh, ewes sold to £117. In Massereene, the top was £100, with Saintfield selling ewes to a top of £93 for a pen of clipped Texels, with others making £77 to £90. In Rathfriland, ewes made £102.

Read more

Beef prices: trade reeling from another 5c/kg cut

Varadkar warns EU president of Mercosur threat for beef