With processors leaving base quotes unchanged, the cattle trade remains steady this week. Quotes for U-3 grade cattle range from 348p to 354p/kg.

The differential between base quotes and prices being paid appears to have narrowed.

Farmers report that most cattle are moving at 352p to 354p/kg, with more regular finishers reporting 356p/kg to 358p/kg on in-spec animals.

There are fewer reports of deals above this level, as the greater availability of cattle in recent weeks has moved the trade in favour of processors.

However, there are some reports that supplies of prime cattle are showing signs of slowing. Mart managers have indicated something similar, with slightly lower throughput of heavy, slaughter-fit cattle.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 349.2p/kg, down 0.3p/kg on the previous week. The average price paid on U3 steers was 361.1p/kg, with U3 heifers averaging 359.9p/kg.

Young bulls have been a difficult trade recently and prices are lagging well behind steers and heifers. The average price paid on U3 bulls last week was 351.4p/kg.

The weekly kill remains high for the time of year, with 7,149 prime cattle slaughtered and 2,220 cows.

Imports of slaughter cattle from Ireland fell to 29, bringing the year-to-date import figure to 461 cattle, which is down 72% on the previous year.

Slaughter cattle imported from Britain totalled 176, with 30 cattle moving in the opposite direction as the beef trade in Britain is steady.

Prices for U3 grading cattle in Britain range from 365p to 375p/kg depending on the region, with Scottish prices at the upper end of the price range.

Cows

Factory demand for cull cows remains robust, with base quotes still on 260p to 290p/kg for O+3 animals and R grade cows on 300p/kg, with deals of 305p to 310p/kg also available.

Hogget trade

The strong hogget trade has consolidated further this week. Best quotes at the plants are up 5p/kg and 455p/kg is now on offer, with more available. A 22kg hogget is now worth over £100.

In the marts, southern buyers are very active and some mart prices are increasing. In Rathfriland, the average was up 4p/kg or £2/head.

At Kilrea, 350 hoggets made from 415p to 449p/kg, up by 9p to 15p/kg on last week.

Massereene sold 726 hoggets making from 400p to 445p/kg, down by 10p/kg.

In Saintfield, 554 hoggets sold from 405p to 468p/kg, no change. Texels at 28kg made £107.50, with 24.8kg at £104. Suffolks at 20kg made £90, while Blackface at 22.5kg made £90.

In Rathfriland, 500 hoggets sold from 411p to 490p/kg, averaging 424p/kg, up by 4p/kg, which would put a 25kg hogget to £106.

The fat ewe trade is still strong, with good top prices for well-fleshed ewes. Top price in Newtownstewart was £105 and £111 in Omagh. Swatragh was £112/head for a big sale of 300 ewes. In Massereene, top price was £110 and in Saintfield it was £126/head. Rathfriland sold 145 ewes to £115.

Store lambs in Ballymena saw Suffolks make £78. The best Blackface in-lamb ewes made £134, £118 and £112, with crossbreds at £100 and £84. Ewes, mostly Texel, Suffolks and crossbreds, with twins at foot made from £124 to £162.