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With farmers still encountering delays in getting cattle booked for slaughter, the beef trade remains lethargic.
Plants are focusing on filling orders for the Christmas period, with cattle agents prioritising prime cattle over cull cows and dairy-bred animals.
But with strong supplies of prime cattle still available, the prospect of a price rise in the run-up to Christmas is looking increasingly unlikely.
The range in base quotes has narrowed this week, as has the gap between base price and deals on offer.
Several plants have shaved 2p to 4p/kg off their top-end quotes, leaving steers on 346p to 350p/kg with heifers on 348p to 350p/kg.
Deals above these levels are getting harder to come by, bearing in mind that farmers continue to face delays of up to two weeks in getting cattle slaughtered. Agents indicate that steers are moving freely at base price, with little more than 4p to 6p/kg on offer for more regular finishers.
Heifers are making similar prices to steers, with deals in the high-350s (p/kg) for more regular sellers offloading large numbers.
Demand for young bulls is weak and while numbers coming on to the market are small, farmers report that cattle agents have little appetite for them. Prices are typically 344p/kg to 348p/kg.
Cattle sourced from the dairy herd are also facing weak demand, with prices running 20p to 30p/kg below base price, depending on quality.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was down by close on 1p/kg to 348.3p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers held firm at 356p/kg, whereas U3 heifers fell by 3p/kg to 360.7p/kg.
Cows
Cull cows continue to face price pressure, with plants focusing on prime cattle for the Christmas trade. Quotes on R3 cows are down 10p/kg to 255p/kg, with O+3 cows falling to a base of 245p/kg.
Lamb trade
The fat lamb trade is steady, with quotes unchanged at 380p/kg. This makes a lamb worth £79.80 at the 21kg limit. Quotes to 22kg will be available next week.
In the marts, the supply of lambs was steady and prices were little changed, although Rathfriland was up by 6p/kg on Tuesday evening.
On Monday in Kilrea, they sold 450 lambs from 337p to 383p/kg, little changed on last week. Massereene sold 886 lambs making from 340p to 361p/kg, no change on last week for the main weight range.
On Tuesday, Saintfield had a show of 702 lambs making from 330p to 406p/kg, no change on last week for the main weight range, although lighter lambs were up.
At Rathfriland, a show of 711 lambs sold from 328p to 414p/kg, and averaged 347p/kg, up 6p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade is dull, with some top prices down by up to £10/head. The top price in Omagh was £75 for 193 sold. Swatragh sold 200 head to £78. Top in Massereene was £82 for 125 sold. Kilrea sold to £95 and in Saintfield, top price was £80. In Rathfriland, ewes made £86 for a small show of only 37 head.
In Ballymena, forward store lambs were a good trade. The best Suffolks made £78 and £72.50, with Lleyn making to £76. Texels made £72 to £74, with the best breeding lambs making £130. Ewe lambs were a good trade, with Texels making £110 and Suffolks making to £90.
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