The cattle trade is finely balanced at present, with supplies running marginally lower than demand. As such, there is more life coming into the trade.

Although processors are reluctant to increase official quotes, the reality is that cattle are being bought well ahead of base prices.

Plants are still quoting 350p to 354p/kg for U-3 grade animal, but prices start from 358p/kg again this week.

Cattle agents commenting on the trade say there is a noticeable tightening of numbers on offer, especially for good-quality in-spec heifers.

The bulk of throughput is coming from larger finishers and feedlots who are on price agreements deals well ahead of quotes.

With plants closing on Good Friday and Easter Monday, the shorter kill week has made it easier for factories to secure numbers without raising prices by more than 2p to 4p/kg.

Most farmers indicate that 358p to 360p/kg is widely available, but that more is on offer. Where farmers are bargaining hard, they are securing deals at 362p to 364p/kg.

Farmers with bigger numbers are securing as far as 370p/kg at the upper end of the market.

Young bulls meeting market spec on conformation and carcase weight are moving at 362p to 365p/kg, depending on the processor, as some are keener than others for bulls.

Dairy-bred stock are moving from 340p to 350p/kg depending on quality.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers increased by 2p/kg to 353.61p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers increased to 364.1kg with U3 heifers averaging 367.5p/kg.

Cows

Cull cows remain a good trade, with processors eager for numbers. Quotes for O+3 grading animals have improved, with base prices ranging from 280p to 292p/kg, while R3 cows are making 300p/kg.

Various deals are being made on cows, with 310p/kg to 320p/kg on offer for good-quality lots.

Hogget trade

Quotes at the plants are steady this week, indicating that the hogget trade has reached a peak and is holding. Top quote is 505p/kg, making a 22kg hogget worth £111.

The mart trade is steady, although heavy hoggets were an easier trade.

There was one pen of spring lambs in Massereene, with six lambs at 21kg making £112, or 533p/kg.

At Kilrea, 400 hoggets made from 448p to 516p/kg, no change from last week.

Massereene sold 890 hoggets making from 450p to 510p/kg, down 10p/kg or £2 for heavier types. Hoggets at 26kg made £117, with 24kg at £115, 22kg at £115 and 21kg at £110.

In Saintfield, 490 hoggets sold from 400p to 480p/kg, down as much as 50p/kg for the main weight ranges.

In Rathfriland, 516 hoggets ranged from 400p to 510p/kg and averaged 448p, down by 19p/kg on last week.

The fat ewe trade is strong, with good top prices. Top was £126 in Newtownstewart and £127 in Omagh. Swatragh had a big sale of 500 ewes selling to £127. In Massereene, top price was £144 for Texels, £130 for Suffolks and £126 for Charollais. In Saintfield, top price was £115; and in Rathfriland it was £110.

Store lambs in Ballymena, Monday evening, made up to £84/head. The best in-lamb Suffolk ewes made £145 and £160; with Mules and crossbreds at £135 and £138. The best ewes with twin lambs at foot made from £178 to £208.