Base quotes for clean cattle have edged back at some of the factories this week, but are unchanged at others.

Quotes at best are 334p/kg for U-3 grade steers and 336p for heifers.

Regular suppliers report that they are still able to achieve deals well ahead of quotes, although with higher numbers coming forward, there is more resistance than in previous weeks.

There is still good demand for butcher-type heifers, with deals continuing in the mid-to high-340s.

However, for steers, the deals available might only be 4p to 8p/kg ahead of base quotes.

Despite that, the average price paid last week for steers and heifers was only down very slightly from the previous week at 333.9p/kg.

Steers were back nearly 1.5p, but average price for heifers was up 1.5p to 337.05p/kg.

U3 heifers averaged 346p/kg, with U3 steers at 344p/kg.

The kill last week at 8,946 was up 350 head on the previous week and was the highest weekly kill so far this year.

The kill also included another strong kill of 2,209 cull cows.

The number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week was 160 head, up from only 76 in the previous week.

Trade in the opposite direction was 73 head.

The trade across to Britain for slaughter was 191 head, one of the highest weekly movements so far this year.

Across some of the top grades, prices there are now running 30p/kg ahead of NI.

Cow trade

Quotes in the plants for fat cows are steady this week and the best quote for an O+3 grade cow is 245p/kg, with others quoting 240p/kg.

The best quote for an R grade is at 250p/kg.

Last week, the prices paid for R3 and R4 grading cows averaged around 270p/kg.

Lamb trade

The trade in fat lambs has taken a knock, with prices down in the marts despite fewer lambs on offer and the much stronger euro, which is at over 88p.

In the factories, quotes are also down, with 375p/kg deadweight on offer. This makes a lamb worth £78.75 at the 21kg limit.

In the marts, Kilrea had a sale of 350 lambs (210 fewer) selling from 334p to 353p, down by 4p/kg.

Massereene sold 881 lambs (90 fewer), making from 320p to 348p/kg, down by 20p/kg.

Saintfield had 612 head (203 fewer) and they made from 320p to 360p, down by 10p to 18p/kg.

In Rathfriland, the sale had 650 lambs (350 fewer) and trade was better. Prices averaged 346p/kg, up 6p on last week. Top prices were £86 and £85 for 26kg. The store lamb trade was mainly in the range 360p to 370p/kg.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes has eased, with the price of top lots in the marts mostly showing falls.

Top in Newtownstewart was £87; in Swatragh was £83 a head; in Omagh £86 for a big show of 290 ewes; in Kilrea and Massereene was £72; and in Saintfield was £90/head.

In Rathfriland, the top for 154 ewes sold was £104 for a pen of great Suffolks. A big number of crossbred ewes sold in the range £80 to £90/head.