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The cattle trade has held relatively steady this week, although one plant moved to shave 2p/kg from its official quote.
The best quote for prime cattle is 364p/kg for U-3 grade heifers, with steers on 362p/kg.
Most other plants are working from a base of 360p/kg.
Factory agents are working hard to try to keep a firm grip on prices. Farmers report that it has become harder to negotiate on price and carcase spec, but there are still deals to be made.
Finished cattle numbers are holding steady, as is buyer demand, but there has been a noticeable increase in the number of dairy-bred cull cows coming on to the market.
In addition, cattle imported from the Republic for direct slaughter stood at 358 last week, up by 120 on the previous week and the highest figure this year.
Most farmers indicate that cattle are moving at 366p to 370p/kg this week, with higher prices of 374p to 376p/kg limited mainly to larger finishers and regular sellers.
Young bulls are moving at base price in the majority of cases, but there are reports of 370p/kg being paid. Dairy-bred cattle are moving at 340p to 350p/kg.
Factory agents indicate they are seeing grass cattle starting to come on to the market, but the majority of the kill is still made up of intensively finished animals coming from sheds.
Last week, the average price for steers and heifers was 361.68p/kg, up 1.2p/kg. The average price for U3 steers rose by 3p to 374.9p/kg while U3 heifers averaged 374.1p/kg.
Cows
The cow trade is steady, despite increasing numbers. Quotes on O+3 animals are holding at 275p to 280p/kg, with R grade cows on 290p/kg, but there is more on offer for good-quality animals. Last week, the paid price for beef cows averaged 304p/kg.
Lamb trade
Last week, southern demand boosted lamb prices substantially in the marts. This week, southern buyers need fewer lambs and prices are down, back by 50p to 60p/kg. Plants have cut their quotes by as much as 25p/kg and 460p/kg is now on offer.
At Kilrea, 470 lambs sold from 418p to 432p/kg, down by 50p to 80p/kg due to reduced southern demand.
Massereene had a big sale of 1,016 lambs making from 425p to 450p/kg, down by 45p to 60p/kg. Plenty of lambs at 20kg made £87 and £88, with smaller numbers at 24kg making £100 and 25kg at £103, the top price per head.
Saintfield sold 566 lambs at 400p to 440p/kg, down by 60p/kg.
In Rathfriland, a show of 586 lambs made from 390p to 425p/kg and averaged 412p/kg, down 50p/kg on last week.
The trade in fat ewes remains strong and top prices were up in some marts. They sold to a top of £107/head in Newtownstewart for 103 head sold; to £98.50 in Swatragh for 150 head; and to £107 in Omagh for a very big show of 486 ewes. Kilrea sold to £100; and in Massereene to £107. In Saintfield, 181ewes sold to a top of £110; while Rathfriland sold 185 ewes to £85.
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