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Supplies of finished cattle appear to be more plentiful this week and with cattle agents securing numbers with greater ease, there is no movement in base prices.
Plants continue to hold quotes for prime cattle at 326p to 334p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
Farmers report that higher prices are still available, but with more cattle coming forward, deals are harder to negotiate.
Prices on steers start from 336p/kg, with most reports that 338p to 340p/kg is still widely available, with 342p/kg mainly limited to larger finishers with a steady supply of in-spec animals.
Young bulls are being bought from a base of 336p to 338p/kg for suckler-bred animals meeting market specifications on carcase weight and age. Discounted prices are being applied to animals running over 400kg carcase weight.
Cattle supplies are being boosted by farmers looking to offload animals finished off straw bedding, as sheds are required to provide calving and lambing facilities
Prime heifers are still in demand, but cattle agents are less flexible on price compared with previous weeks.
Most reports put the bulk of good quality heifers on 344p to 346p/kg, with few reports of higher prices on offer this week.
Cattle supplies are being boosted by farmers looking to offload animals finished off straw bedding, as sheds are required to provide calving and lambing facilities.
Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers recorded a marginal increase of 0.19p to 333.79p/kg.
The average price paid on U3 steers eased by 0.3p to 341.1p/kg, with U3 heifers falling by 1.5p to 344.6p/kg. Young bulls increased by 5.5p to 332.9p/kg for U3 grading animals.
Imports of Irish cattle for processing at NI plants totalled 349 head, with northern wholesalers being extremely active in marts south of the border.
Cows
The cull cow trade remains on a steady footing, with plants continuing to hold quotes on 260p/kg for R3 animals, with 250p/kg on O+3 cows.
Last week, the average price paid on the respective grades was 279.4p/kg and 257.2p/kg.
Hogget trade
After the increases in base quotes over recent weeks, the hogget trade has steadied on a base of 440p/kg. This makes a hogget worth £96.80 at the 22kg deadweight limit.
Prices paid in the marts are steady, with some easing on lighter lots.
In Kilrea, 370 hoggets sold from 380p to 431p/kg, which was unchanged on last week.
Massereene had a show of 836 hoggets and they sold from 410p to 453p/kg, no change on last week.
In Saintfield, 550 hoggets made from 400p to 440p/kg, unchanged for the main run, but down 33p/kg for lightweight hoggets.
Rathfriland had a show of 530 hoggets selling from 395p to 443p/kg, with the sale average of 409p/kg down by 8p/kg on last week.
In Lisahally, trade was back by up to £2/head. Heavy hoggets at 26.5kg made £100 to £104. Hoggets at 23.5kg and 24kg made from £95 to £98.
Ewes
The demand for fat ewes is still returning strong prices. The top in Omagh was £93 for 118 head sold. In Swatragh, the top was £128 for 352 head sold.
In Massereene, the top was £164 for strong pedigree ewes. In Kilrea, the top was £105, with ewes at Saintfield making £119, while Rathfriland sold ewes to £132.
Breeding sheep in Ballymena were a super trade. At the top end of the market, ewes with twin lambs at foot made from £205 to £245. Springing ewes sold from £165 to £188, with store lambs making from £70 to £91.50/head.
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