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With beef processors indicating they have adequate cattle on hand to fulfil outstanding orders prior to Christmas, some plants have moved to shave another 2p/kg off their base quote this week.
This leaves the range of base quotes on 340p to 346p/kg for U3 grading steers and heifers.
Some agents are talking the trade down and trying to work from a base of 338p/kg, but they are having little success in doing so. However, most agents and farmers indicate that good-quality prime cattle are moving freely from a base of 346p/kg, but out-of-spec animals are being paid at the lower end of the range of base quotes.
Young bulls remain a difficult trade, with farmers being held at base quotes.
Deals on steers above base price are limited, with more regular sellers with bigger numbers to offer reporting that there is little more than 348p to 350p/kg available.
Prime heifers are faring slightly better on price. Where finishers have bigger numbers to offload, prices on offer are 350p to 354p/kg and includes premiums where supply agreements exit.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 3.4p/kg to 344.47p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 steers was 351.2p/kg, down by 1.5p/kg on the previous week. The average price paid on U3 heifers was 357.5p/kg, down by 1.7p/kg.
Cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland for direct slaughter at NI plants totalled 316 head last week. For the same week last year, just 60 slaughter cattle were imported from south of the border.
The number of slaughter cattle moving in the opposite direction remains steady, with 191 animals travelling south for processing. There was no movement of NI cattle to Britain.
Cows
Base quotes on cull cows are down by 4p to 6p/kg, with R3 animals on a top quote of 255p/kg and O+3 cows on a quote of 245p/kg.
Lamb trade
The lamb trade continues to strengthen, with factories adding 15p/kg on to base quotes. This brings quotes to 415p/kg, which makes a lamb worth £91.30 at the 22kg limit.
In the marts, there were more lambs on offer. Buyers for southern plants were driving prices, as averages rose by 20p to 38p/kg half-weight.
On Monday in Kilrea, they sold 500 lambs from 368p to 459p/kg, up by 12p/kg for heavier lambs.
Massereene sold 1,046 lambs making from 375p to 400p/kg, up by 20p/kg.
On Tuesday, Saintfield had a show of 843 lambs making from 370p to 452p/kg, up by 20p/kg for heavier lambs.
In Rathfriland, 600 lambs sold from 362p to 433p/kg and averaged 387p/kg, up 38p/kg on last week. Heavier lambs from 25kg to 29kg made from £96 to £98/head. Lighter store lambs at 18kg to 19.5kg made from £77 to £82, or from 408p to 433p/kg.
Lisahally had a very good trade, with heavy lambs at 27kg and 28kg making from £90 to £97. Store lambs were a great trade at 410p/kg and more.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade has improved, with top prices up in most of the marts. The top price in Newtownstewart was £88 and in Omagh it was £90 for 83 sold. Swatragh sold 100 head to £85. The top in Massereene was £82. In Kilrea, ewes sold to £89 and in Saintfield to £80. Rathfriland sold 138 ewes to £100.
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