The beef trade remains on a positive footing for farmers, with good numbers of prime cattle for sale. Beef processors have left their quotes unchanged, with the range of base prices officially on 354p to 358p/kg for U3 grading cattle.

However, factory quotes are lagging well behind the actual prices on offer this week. Farmers report that plants are working from a base of 360p/kg, which is consistent with previous weeks.

In-spec cattle are moving at prices of 2p to 5p/kg above base for farmers with smaller numbers to offer, putting cattle to 365p/kg.

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More regular sellers are in a stronger position to negotiate on price and securing deals of 6p to 8p/kg above base on steers, with young bulls under 16 months of age securing similar price deals.

Farmers with good numbers of heifers to sell are securing 368p to 372p/kg at the upper end of the market.

Some farmers are making deals that include haulage, but this is being reflected in a slightly lower price deal.

Plainer cattle and dairy-bred stock are a solid trade, with 340p to 350p/kg on offer for Friesian types, while beef-sired dairy-bred animals are making well over 350p/kg.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 356.93p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers was 368.8p/kg, with U3 heifers averaging 370.8p/kg.

In Britain, prices continue to edge upwards, with U grading steers making 376p to 382p/kg, with U grading heifers making 378p to 388p/kg, with higher prices on offer in Scotland.

Cows

The trade for cull cows remains steady, with factory agents keen to secure numbers. Quotes are typically 280p to 290p/kg on O+3 grading animals, with R3 cows on 300p/kg.

However, deals for cows are running well ahead of base quotes, with good-quality beef cows making 310p to 320p/kg.

Hogget and spring lamb trade

The number of hoggets is in decline and the best factory quote is at 550p/kg, making a 22kg hogget worth £121. Smaller numbers in the marts saw trade down slightly.

The best spring lamb quote is 590p/kg, making a 21kg lamb worth almost £124.

In the marts, Massereene sold 151 spring lambs making from 550p to 613p/kg, no change on last week.

In Saintfield, 100 lambs made from 532p to 560p/kg.

In Rathfriland, 169 spring lambs made from 521p to 570p/kg and averaged 535p/kg, down 27p/kg.

In Lisahally, 40 springs sold to £137 for Texels at 23kg.

At Kilrea, 300 hoggets made 478p to 505p/kg, no change on last week for the main weight range.

Massereene had only 355 hoggets making from 450p to 520p/kg, no change.

In Saintfield, only 90 hoggets made from 400p to 450p/kg, down by 20p/kg on last week.

In Rathfriland, 81 hoggets ranged from 405p to 505p/kg and averaged 440p/kg, down 26p/kg.

In Lisahally, hoggets averaging 23.5kg made £109 or 463p/kg.

The fat ewe trade remains strong, with good top prices. Swatragh had 300 ewes selling to a top of £127. In Omagh, top price was £130. In Massereene, the top was £124 and in Saintfield it was £121. Rathfriland sold 216 head to £122.

In Ballymena, the best ewes with twins at foot sold from £190 to a top of £215. Store lambs sold to £80.