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The traditional rise in cattle price in the run-up to the Christmas period has yet to materialise and with a very short window left for this trade, it is looking highly unlikely that processors will increase quotes.
Cattle supplies are coming on to the market in a steady manner, helping to maintain a steady price at present.
Base quotes are unchanged this week, at 350p to 354p/kg on U-3 grade cattle.
Farmers indicate that most plants are working from a starting price of 354p/kg.
With robust demand for manufacturing beef and a strong live trade, cow prices are steady
However, with some plants operating on a six day kill week for a brief period, there is more of an edge in the market.
Cattle agents are responding by offering deals of 4p/kg to 6p/kg more to secure adequate numbers.
This puts steers and heifers on a price of 358p to 360p/kg. Young bulls are moving from 354p to 358p/kg for animals that meet market spec on weight, grade and age.
At the top end of the market, there have been reports of 362p to 364p/kg paid on heifers, but this is mainly limited to finishers selling bigger numbers on a regular basis.
The average price paid on steers and heifers over the past week was 349.97p/kg, up 1.8p/kg on the previous week.
The average price paid on U3 grading steers rose to 362p/kg, with U3 heifers averaging 362.2p/kg.
Prices in Britain have hardened in the past week as demand increases.
Prices in Scotland on R grade cattle are 380p to 382p/kg, with similar prices reported in England at the top end of the market.
Cows
With robust demand for manufacturing beef and a strong live trade, cow prices are steady. Quotes on O+3 animals run to 275p/kg, with R grade cows on 285p/kg. Deals on offer for good beef cows continue to range from 290p to 300p/kg.
The plants have increased the upper weight limit this week and are now quoting to 22kg deadweight, with 375p and 370p/kg now on offer. This values a lamb at up to £82.50 at the 22kg limit.
In the marts, the number of lambs on offer was largely unchanged, and there were only small changes in prices. In Rathfriland, Tuesday evening, prices were up by 3p/kg or about 75p a lamb.
In Kilrea, 350 lambs sold from 334p to 348p/kg, little changed for heavier lambs, although less was bid for lighter lambs.
Massereene sold 943 lambs making from 335p to 362p/kg, up by 5p/kg.
In Saintfield, a sale of 690 lambs made from 324p to 386p/kg, no change from last week.
Rathfriland had a sale of 755 lambs making from 320p to 405p/kg and averaging 349p/kg, up by 3p/kg on last week. The heaviest lambs at 26kg made from £85 to £90/head.
The top prices for fat ewes were up in most of the marts. Ewes sold to a top of £83 in Newtownstewart and £93 in Swatragh. Omagh sold 208 ewes to £98/head. In Kilrea, the top was £77 and in Massereene it was £99/head. In Saintfield, the top was £100 for 150 ewes sold.
In Rathfriland, 55 ewes sold to £80/head.
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