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After small increases to base prices last week, processing plants are holding steady and keeping quotes on 340p to 344p for U-3 grading cattle.
However, most farmers indicate that prices on offer remain well ahead of base quotes. Several reports indicate plants are opening on 346p/kg to 348p/kg and cattle are moving freely at this level.
Improved deals are on offer for more regular sellers or farmers with bigger numbers of in-spec animals to offload.
Deals of 350p to 352p/kg have been reported on steers, with an additional 2p/kg where bigger supplies of prime heifers are on offer, but this reflects the upper end of the market outside of specialist finishers.
With an improving live trade for finished cattle, farmers who are struggling to negotiate on price should be considering their options for marketing cattle carefully.
However, cattle falling outside of market spec remain a difficult trade and farmers with limited numbers have little room to negotiate on price.
Cattle agents are reporting a much more balanced supply at present, which is helping to underpin the trade.
In contrast, beef prices continue to face growing price pressure for farmers operating south of the border and in Britain, where demand for finished cattle has eased.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell marginally by 0.2p/kg to 341.6p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 grading steers was relatively static on 349p/kg, with U3 grading heifers also holding steady at 354p/kg. Prices for U3 grading bulls averaged 340p/kg.
Cow trade
As with prime cattle, there is no change to base quotes on cull cows.
Plants continue to work from a top quote of 246p/kg on R3 grading animals, with O+3 grading cows on a base of 236p/kg.
Last week, the average price paid on an R3 cow was 258p/kg, with O grading cows averaging 237.2p/kg.
Hogget trade
The hogget trade remains buoyant, with one plant putting 5p/kg on to its base quote, taking it to 440p/kg.
This makes a hogget worth £96.80 at the 22kg limit.
Trade also remains strong in the marts, with the average price in Rathfriland on Tuesday evening up by 10p/kg on last week.
Rathfriland sold 443 hoggets from 389p to 471p/kg with an average of 405p/kg. Prices reached £105 for 28.9kg, with plenty of hoggets at 25kg making from £102 to £104.50.
Hoggets at 23kg made £88.50, with 20.5kg at £86.50. Store hoggets are very dear, with 15.7kg making £74/head (471p/kg) and 19.9kg making £86.
Kilrea sold 400 hoggets from 399p to 424p/kg, up 9p/kg for heavier weights.
Massereene sold 729 hoggets from 390p to 440p/kg, up 20p/kg for lighter hoggets.
Saintfield sold 630 head making from 400p to 453p/kg, up 10p/kg for heavier hoggets.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade is still firm, with some top prices increasing. The top price in Newtownstewart was £101 and in Omagh it was £96 for 228 sold.
Swatragh sold 100 head to £95. The top in Massereene was £90. In Kilrea, ewes sold to £110 and in Saintfield to £100. Rathfriland sold 112 ewes to £110, with plenty making £90/head.
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