Quotes at the factories are still moving up and another has advanced its quotes to 334p/kg for U-3 grade steers and heifers.

Factory buyers are making deals on a day-by-day basis and, with the good weather and plenty of grass, there is no rush of grass-fed beef as yet. The top base quotes are at 336p/kg, with regular suppliers reporting that deals are available up to 10p/kg ahead, particularly for butcher-type heifers.

The rising market is reflected in the prices paid for cattle last week, with the average for steers and heifers up another 1.5p/kg to 330.56p/kg, the highest average price paid since July 2015, and 30p/kg ahead of the price paid in April 2016.

Last week, U3 grade steers averaged 341p/kg, with heifers at 342.6p/kg.

The trade continues to be mainly driven by tight numbers, with 7,361 cattle slaughtered in NI last week. The kill over the last 10 weeks is similar to the kill over the same period in 2015. Last year, it was the end of September before any significant numbers of cattle started to emerge.

With the continued weakness of sterling against the euro, southern Irish cattle are not that attractive to NI processors.

The number of cattle coming in from the south for slaughter last week was quite low at 121 head. Trade in the opposite direction increased substantially to 321 head, driven by cow prices south of the border moving significantly ahead of NI.

The trade across to Britain for slaughter also increased to 111 head.

Cow trade

Quotes in the plants for fat cows show no change. The best quote for an O+3 grade cow is 250p/kg, with others quoting 240p/kg. The best quote for an R grade is steady at 260p/kg, with prices for R3 and R4 grading cows last week approaching 270p/kg.

Lamb trade

The lamb trade is steady this week and factories have left their quotes unchanged at 385p/kg deadweight with a lamb worth £80.85 at the 21kg limit. But 390p should be available at a push.

There were good shows in the marts, with small increases at Kilrea and Saintfield. But on Tuesday evening in Rathfriland, prices were back by £1.50/head.

Kilrea had a smaller sale of 497 lambs and they sold from 348p to 383p, up 3p/kg for the main weight range.

Massereene had a show of 976 head, making from 345p to 376p, no change.

Saintfield had a show of 747 lambs selling from 338p to 370p, up by 8p/kg.

In Rathfriland, the sale had 1,050 lambs on offer selling from 320p to 397p/kg to an average of 343p/kg, which was down by 7p or £1.50 a head on last week. Lambs at 27kg made up to £90 a head with 24kg at £84 and £85. Store lambs made to 397p/kg.

The trade in fat ewes has edged down a bit with top lots back in the marts. The exception was Massereene where the top price was up. Top in Newtownstewart was £82; in Swatragh was £79.50 a head; in Omagh £88; Kilrea was £72; in Massereene was £121; in Saintfield was £88; while in Rathfriland the top was £85/head.