It is a case of as you were in the cattle trade, with little change in demand, numbers and pricing. Official quotes continue to hold at 340p to 346p/kg for U-3 grade cattle. Most processors are working from a starting base of 346p/kg and there are plenty of cattle moving at this price.

Deals at the top end of the market are not as varied as previous weeks, but there are farmers reporting 348p/kg to 350p/kg on offer for larger numbers of in-spec cattle.

Deals above 350p/kg appear to be much more limited, but they have been paid to finishers with a regular supply of cattle.

Angus-type cattle that qualify for premiums are mostly moving at base prices of 344p to 346p/kg, as are young bulls.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers was 343.13p/kg, down 0.4p/kg from the previous week. U grade steers averaged 352.4p/kg, with heifers being paid 355.5p/kg. Young bulls grading U3 averaged 345.9p/kg.

Cattle imported from south of the border for direct slaughter totalled 249 head, down 126 for the same week last year.

Cattle moving to Britain for slaughter totalled 40 animals, down 179 head for the same period last year. Prices in Britain are sluggish, as the prime cattle kill is increasing and sales of beef are slow.

Prices are strongest in Scotland and the north of England, with U grade steers making 360p to 365p/kg.

Heifers are generally making 5p to 8p/kg above steers, with good-quality cows making up to 260p/kg.

Cows

The cow trade is also steady, with processors quoting 245p to 250p/kg on O+3 animals. Plainer cows are mostly moving at 5p/kg above base quotes.

Quotes for good-quality R grade cows are 260p/kg, but there are deals of 270p/kg on offer and 275p/kg for top-quality continental cows that have been intensively finished.

Hogget trade

The quotes at the plants for hoggets have picked up this week and increased by 15p to 385p/kg payable to 22kg deadweight.

In the marts, numbers were reasonably steady and prices are up, especially in Rathfriland on Tuesday.

Kilrea had 360 hoggets selling from 356p to 372p/kg, up 19p for heavier animals.

Massereene had a sale of 1,004 hoggets making from 350p to 396p,/kg up by 10p to 20p/kg on last week.

In Saintfield, Tuesday, they had a sale of 427 hoggets making from 345p to 390p/kg, up by 5p/kg on last week.

In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, a show of 504 hoggets sold from 324p to 389p/kg and averaged 355p/kg, up by 11p/kg on last week.

Ewes

Top prices for the best fat ewes are up in most of the marts this week. They sold to a top of £104 in Newtownstewart; £96 in Swatragh; to £113 in Omagh; to £90 in Kilrea; and to £101 in Massereene. In Saintfield, a small show of 55 ewes sold to a top of £90, while, in Rathfriland, a show of 197 ewes were a good trade selling to a top of £108/head.

In Ballymena, Monday evening, the best store hoggets sold from £80 to £75/head for Texels; and to £68 for Blackface. The best Texel in-lamb ewes made £160, with crossbreds at £138 and £130.

Ewes with twins at foot made from £140 to £175 depending on breed, with one exceptional crossbred ewe and her lambs making £225.