Price pressure continues to mount on the beef trade and several pants have moved to reduce quotes by 4p/kg this week, although this price cut mainly applies to the quotes on offer at the upper end of the market.

Once applied, this puts the range of base quotes on U-3 grading animals at 330p to 336p/kg for both steers and heifers.

There are price deals on offer for prime cattle meeting market specification on weight and conformation. However, the gap between quotes and price deals has narrowed.

Farmers indicate that good-quality steers are moving from 338p to 340p/kg, with 2p/kg more where bigger numbers are offered for sale.

Heifers are faring slightly better, with deals of 340p to 346p/kg on offer for regular finishers with steady supplies coming on to the market.

Young bulls are a more difficult trade, with most price reports indicating animals are moving at the upper end of base quotes.

Cattle with lower conformation or falling outside of carcase weight limits are an extremely difficult sell, with farmers facing a challenge to offload animals.

Supplies of finished cattle coming on to the market remain strong and delays in getting animals processed have extended to at least a two-week wait.

Some farmers killing animals under breed schemes report delays of three to four weeks at some plants.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was down 3p/kg to 335.76p/kg.

The average price paid on U3 steers was also down 3p/kg to 343.2p/kg, with U3 heifers down 2p/kg to 347.9p/kg.

Cattle imported from the Republic for direct slaughter at local plants amounted to 62 head, with 127 animals, mostly heifers, moving in the opposite direction.

Cows

The cow trade remains steady, with the best quote on R3 cows at 240p/kg, with O+3 animals on 230p/kg.

Last week, the average price paid on R3 cows was 261.8p/kg.

Hogget trade

The hogget trade has picked up this week, with plants paying in the region of 425p/kg, although the official quote is holding at 420p/kg. At the 22kg weight limit, this makes a hogget worth up to £93.50.

In the marts, the number of hoggets on offer was up on last week, with prices unchanged or down slightly.

Kilrea sold 400 hoggets from 402p to 440p/kg, no change on last week.

Massereene sold 843 hoggets from 385p to 420p/kg, down 5p/kg for heavier hoggets.

Saintfield sold 673 head from 370p to 427p/kg, no change for the main weight range.

In Rathfriland, 300 hoggets on offer sold from 380p to 466p/kg and averaged 392p/kg, down by 4p/kg on last week. The top price per head was £100, with the main price range from £92 to £97/head.

Ewes

The fat ewe trade in the marts is firm, although top prices are down a bit on last week. The top in Omagh was £104 and in Swatragh, it was £129 for 223 sold. The top in Massereene was £119 and in Kilrea, ewes sold to £98. In Saintfield, the top was £130 and in Rathfriland, it was £85.

In Ballymena, the best Texel ewes with twin lambs at foot made £212 and £194 for an outfit. Springing Mule ewes made £125 and £122, with Texels at £120 and Cheviots at £118. Store hoggets made to £72.50 each.

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