The beef trade is steady for prime cattle, but there is more life in the cull cow trade.

Prices for U-3 grade cattle range from 350p to 356p/kg, with farmers indicating 356p/kg is widely available as a starting price.

Supplies of cattle coming on to the market are good and agents are finding it easier to secure numbers this week.

One reason for the greater availability of cattle is down to adverse weather conditions last week, with several finishers unable to move stock to factories.

Delays in booking cattle for slaughter have been reported by farmers, with many indicating a wait of one to two weeks to offload cattle. More regular sellers are managing to move cattle within a shorter time period.

Processors indicate they would like to reduce quotes slightly, but have been unable to do so, as they are relying mainly on larger finishers for the majority of throughput.

Deals have already been made for cattle being killed this week and next. Prices being reported are unchanged, with deals of 358p to 362p/kg on offer to farmers with good supplies and 365p to 370p/kg being paid to larger finishers selling more regularly.

While sales of prime beef cuts are sluggish, demand for manufacturing beef remains strong and is undoubtedly underpinning the beef trade at present.

Cull cow prices have strengthened, as have prices for dairy-bred cattle. Prices of 330p to 348p/kg are being paid on plainer, dairy-type animals, depending on conformation.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 351.19p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers was 364.9p/kg, with U3 heifers on 364p/kg.

Cows

With increased factory demand and a robust live trade for cows, base quotes have edged upwards this week. Quotes on O+3 cows are 290p, with R grade cows on 300p/kg.

Hoggets

Quotes for hoggets at meat plants are trying to keep pace with the strong trade in the marts, where the numbers of hoggets on offer are falling. The best quote is at 410p/kg, with 405p/kg elsewhere. At 410p/kg, a hogget is worth £90.20 at the 22kg weight limit.

In the marts, Kilrea sold 400 hoggets from 369p to 391p/kg, up 6p/kg for heavier hoggets compared with last week.

Massereene sold 726 hoggets, making from 380p to 415p/kg, up by 5p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield on Tuesday, a show of 518 hoggets sold from 360p to 416p/kg, up by 16p/kg for lighter hoggets.

In Rathfriland, 683 hoggets sold from 360p to 405p/kg and averaged 378p/kg, making a 24kg hogget worth £90 to £91.

The fat ewe trade remains firm, with improved top prices in the marts. Top price in Swatragh was £115/head for 225 sold. In Kilrea, the top was £95 and in Massereene, it was £122. In Saintfield on Tuesday, a show of 98 head made up to £90/head.

A small show of store lambs in Ballymena, Monday evening, saw the best pen of Texels make £68.50/head, with Blackface selling to £64. A pen of good in-lamb ewes made £135, with others at £118/head.