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Prices on prime cattle are steady, with processors leaving base quotes unchanged. This keeps U-3 grading cattle on 318p to 320p/kg.
Farmers report that plants are working on 320p to 322p/kg as a starting price for steers and getting adequate numbers at this level.
Negotiating beyond this is difficult and higher prices are reserved mainly for larger, specialist finishers killing bigger numbers.
Heifers are a better trade and reports indicate that cattle agents are much more active in sourcing supplies of good-quality, butcher-type animals.
Prices being reported for heifers start from 322p/kg, although the general consensus is that most animals are typically moving around the 326p/kg mark.
There have been a few reports of 328p to 330p/kg being paid to regular finishers for top-quality lots at the upper end of the market, although some of these prices include bonus payments for supply agreements.
Young bulls are moving at base price, with little room to negotiate for improved deals.
Throughput at NI plants increased to 10,283 cattle last week, making it the highest weekly kill since November 2017. The weekly kill has only exceeded 10,000 on seven occasions since 2012.
Last week, imports of slaughter cattle from the Republic of Ireland to processing plants in NI totalled 401, an increase of 120 head on the previous week.
For the first time in several weeks, there was cattle moving from NI to slaughter plants in Britain, with 58 animals exported. The average price on steers and heifers averaged 316.37p/kg, down by 1.6p/kg on the previous week.
The average price paid on U3 steers fell by 1.3p to 321.9p/kg, with U3 heifers relatively unchanged on 328.9p/kg. Young bulls averaged 318.1p/kg.
Cows
Base quotes on cull cows are also steady, with R3 grading animals holding on 260p/kg.
Plainer cows remain on 345p to 255p/kg for O+3 grading animals. Last week, R3 cows averaged 269.3p/kg, down 3p/kg on the previous week.
Lamb trade
Lamb quotes are down by 5p and 10p/kg to a base of 345p and 350p/kg, making a lamb worth £73.50 at the 21kg weight limit. The mart trade is reasonably steady this week, having come under pressure recently.
In Kilrea, 380 lambs sold from 305p to 313p/kg, up by 5p/kg for heavier lambs.
In Massereene, 911 lambs sold from 300p to 323p/kg, down by 10p/kg. Buyers for southern plants were very cautious, needing only small numbers of lambs, as they have a backlog from their own suppliers. Top price was £74 for good 27kg lambs. A big run from 23kg to 25.5kg made £71 to £73/head. Lighter lambs at 21.5kg and 22kg sold from £65.50 to £69.50/head.
In Saintfield, 661 lambs sold from 292p to 344p/kg, down by 3p to 6p/kg on last week.
Rathfriland had a show of 642 lambs selling from 288p to 388p/kg, averaging 317p/kg, which was up by 3p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The fat ewe trade has eased this week. The top price in Omagh was £74. Swatragh sold to a top price of £90 for a show of 300 head. In Massereene, the top price was £95. In Kilrea, the top price was £78 and in Saintfield, it was £100. In Rathfriland, ewes made £82/head.
The top store lamb price in Ballymena was £66.50 for two pens of Dorsets. Texels made £59.50 to £64.50 with the best Suffolks making £62/head.
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