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The cattle trade has come down further, with some plants taking another 2p/kg off their base quotes. The best quotes for U-3 grade steers are at 352p, while the best heifer quotes are at 354p.
With farmers under pressure with wet conditions, some have opted to kill cattle rather than house, which has made it easier for factories to get supplies.
Changes from last week
However, regular farmer suppliers report that prices paid are generally little changed from last week, with some movement down, but prices into the high 350s and low 360s still available for in-spec animals.
Last week, the average price paid for steers was down only 0.4p/kg on the previous week, at 351.68p/kg. However, heifers took a bigger hit, with the average down 4.5p/kg to 352p/kg. U3 grading heifers averaged 362.1p/kg, with steers at 363.3p/kg.
Best prices
Looking back at prices paid over the last few weeks, averages are back around 10p/kg on what was available at the end of July.
Over the same period, prices paid in Britain have gone in the other direction and there is now a 20p to 30p/kg gap for some of the better conformation grades.
That is encouraging more cattle to go across the Irish Sea for slaughter, with 128 making the journey last week, one of the highest figures this year. Reports suggest more cattle have been lined up to go to Britain in the weeks ahead.
Numbers back
With prices down slightly in NI, the number of cattle coming from the south for slaughter last week fell back to 259 head.
Trade in the opposite direction was 296 head, one of the highest weekly figures this year.
Cow trade
The trade in fat cows is steady, with the best quote for an O+3 grade cow at 275p/kg, with others on 265p. The best quote for an R grade is 280p/kg, with others on 275p and 270p/kg. Prices paid for R3 and R4 grading cows averaged 296.6p/kg last week.
Lamb trade
The lamb trade is still soft and the plants have cut quotes by 5p to 385p and 380p/kg for up to 21kg.
There were more lambs in the marts, but prices bid were unchanged or down only slightly.
In Kilrea, 520 lambs sold from 346p to 360p, no change on last week.
In Massereene, a sale of 1,326 lambs made from 335p to 367p, down by 5p on last week.
In Saintfield, 495 lambs sold from 330p to 368p/kg, no change.
A big sale in Rathfriland saw 1,022 lambs making from 325p to 393p/kg and averaging 350p, down only 2p on last week.
The top prices for fat ewes are still holding up well. They sold to a top of £86/head in Newtownstewart and to £115 in Swatragh. Omagh sold 386 ewes to a top of £88.
In Kilrea the top price was £80 and in Massereene was £90. In Saintfield they made to £92, while in Rathfriland the top price was £82/head.
In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best Texel and Suffolk store lambs made from £65 to £68. The best Texel breeding hoggets made £220. Cheviots and crossbreds made from £160 to £190. The best Charollais, Suffolk and Mule ewe lambs were a strong trade, making from £125 to £165/head.
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