After a brief period where cattle prices had gained some upward momentum, there are signs that the market is again facing a period of pressure.

Some plants have cut their throughput by moving to a four-day week, which is now creating a backlog in supplies of finished cattle.

Furthermore, the backlog of cattle is also being affected by the increasing availability of animals that were already coming on to the market.

Farmers contacting cattle agents to offload stock are reporting a delay of seven to 10 days to get animals booked for slaughter.

There have also been reports of cattle initially booked for slaughter midweek being postponed until the latter half of next week.

Base quotes have eased by 4p to 6p/kg at some plants, while others plants held steady. This brings the range of opening prices on U-3 grading animals to 334p to 344p/kg.

The positive for farmers is that there are still deals to be made above base quotes, but not at levels of previous weeks.

Farmers moving prime cattle that meet market spec are reporting deals of 348p to 350p/kg towards the upper end of the market.

Deals above this level are harder to come by and reserved mainly for farmers who can offer larger numbers or killing cattle on a weekly arrangement.

Early reports from farmers looking to offload cattle next week indicate that processors are reluctant to give any indication on price until closer to the time of slaughter.

Last week, the average price on steers and heifers was down by 1.1p to 342.34p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers was relatively static on 349.6p/kg, with U3 heifers down by 2p to an average of 354.1p/kg.

Cows

The trade for cull cows remains challenging, but quotes are holding steady, with R3 cows on 246p/kg and O+3 animals on 236p/kg. Last week, the average price paid on R3 cows was 259.8p/kg.

Hogget trade

The hogget trade is dull this week and plants have cut their quotes. Base quotes are down 15p to 430p/kg, making a hogget worth £94.60 at the 22kg limit.

In the marts, the trade has taken a knock, with buyers for southern plants cutting back on their requirements, as fewer hoggets are being processed this week.

Kilrea sold 400 hoggets making from 400p to 423p/kg, down by 9p/kg on last week.

Massereene sold 821 hoggets from 385p to 418p/kg, down by 5p/kg for heavier hoggets.

Saintfield sold 590 head from 380p to 440p/kg, down by 35p/kg for heavier hoggets.

Rathfriland sold 432 hoggets from 377p to 422p/kg with a sale average of 386p/kg, down by 26p/kg on last week.

In Lisahally, the trade was back by £5/head. Top price for 26kg was £98, with a big run in the range £92 to £95/head.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade has eased, with top prices down in most marts. The top in Newtownstewart was £89 and in Omagh, it was £91 for 253 sold. Swatragh sold 300 head to £117. The top price in Massereene was £92 and in Kilrea, ewes sold to £107.50. In Saintfield, top price was £100 and in Rathfriland, it was £105.

In Ballymena, ewes with lambs at foot sold to £228. Springing Texel ewes made £148, with Suffolks at £145 and £142. Charollais and mule ewes sold to £138. Store hoggets sold to £83/head.

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