The plants have maintained their quotes this week for clean cattle, giving a best quote of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.
However, reports from farmers suggest there continues to be some downward pressure on actual deals on offer.
That is leaving prices paid around the 640p/kg mark for U-3 grades, with slightly more going for larger suppliers and those with butcher-type heifers.
Last week, the average price paid for a U3 grade steer was 643.1p, down by 2.1p on the previous week, with R3 steers at 639.6p/kg, down 2.5p. It is the first time that the price paid for R3 steers has dipped below the 640p/kg mark since early July 2025.
The price paid for heifers was also under pressure, with U3 grades at 643.9p, down by 3.8p.
Across all steers and heifers the average price paid last week was back by 3.1p at 636.5p/kg. Just under 18p has now come off this average price since last November.
Britain
In Britain, prices paid also continue to come under pressure, with the local trade undermined by cheap imports from the southern hemisphere.
The price paid for R3 steers in Britain was down 2.2p, leaving it only slightly ahead of NI at 640.6p/kg.
In the Republic of Ireland (ROI), processors continue to talk the trade down, with another 10c/kg taken off quotes. As a result, the gap to NI has widened out to around 30p/kg.
That difference is attracting more ROI cattle north for direct slaughter.
Last week saw 711 head imported, up by over 150 on the previous week and the highest weekly import figure since November 2024.
That is also helping to compensate for relatively tight numbers of finished cattle in NI.
Last week’s cattle kill saw 9,458 head slaughtered in NI, which is closely in line with the average weekly kill so far in 2026. The total included 1,870 cows.
Cows
The quotes for fat cows are steady and the best for an O+ cow is at 506p/kg.
Deals for good quality suckler types remain around the 560p/kg mark, with the average price paid last week for an R3 cow at 558.8p, up 2.8p on the previous week. P3 grading cows averaged 515.6p/kg, with P2 cows at 499.3p/kg.
Big lift to hogget prices
The mart trade for hoggets is roaring ahead this week with heavies reaching £204 a head in Ballymena.
Quotes in the plants have jumped up to 755p/kg for 22kg and to 740p/kg for 22.5kg deadweight putting a hogget to £166, which is up £10 on last week.
Trade in Gortin was on fire with a top of £187 for 33kg and £185 for 30kg. Hoggets at 24.8kg sold for £174 or 701p/kg.
Trade in Kilrea was very strong, making to a top of 745p/kg for 21kg at £156.50 with 733p for 21.5kg at £157.50. The best hoggets at 24kg made £166 or 692p/kg. Heavier sorts made from £175 to £185.
In Markethill, a firm trade saw 750 hoggets selling from 650p to 716p/kg. The 716p was for 21.4kg at £153 with 708p for 21.2kg at £150. Heavies made from £177 to £185.
In Saintfield, trade was strong and hoggets sold from 665p to 744p/kg.
In Ballymena the trade was well up. Very heavy hoggets from 30.5kg to 34kg made from £184 to £205 a head, up by £20 and £35 on last week.
Quality hoggets at 26.5kg made £205 or 774p/kg with 22.5kg at £166 or 738p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin the top ewes made £295 and £245 with others from £160 to £240.
In Kilrea the top was £248 and in Markethill ewes sold to £268 with a run from £190 to £246.
The plants have maintained their quotes this week for clean cattle, giving a best quote of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.
However, reports from farmers suggest there continues to be some downward pressure on actual deals on offer.
That is leaving prices paid around the 640p/kg mark for U-3 grades, with slightly more going for larger suppliers and those with butcher-type heifers.
Last week, the average price paid for a U3 grade steer was 643.1p, down by 2.1p on the previous week, with R3 steers at 639.6p/kg, down 2.5p. It is the first time that the price paid for R3 steers has dipped below the 640p/kg mark since early July 2025.
The price paid for heifers was also under pressure, with U3 grades at 643.9p, down by 3.8p.
Across all steers and heifers the average price paid last week was back by 3.1p at 636.5p/kg. Just under 18p has now come off this average price since last November.
Britain
In Britain, prices paid also continue to come under pressure, with the local trade undermined by cheap imports from the southern hemisphere.
The price paid for R3 steers in Britain was down 2.2p, leaving it only slightly ahead of NI at 640.6p/kg.
In the Republic of Ireland (ROI), processors continue to talk the trade down, with another 10c/kg taken off quotes. As a result, the gap to NI has widened out to around 30p/kg.
That difference is attracting more ROI cattle north for direct slaughter.
Last week saw 711 head imported, up by over 150 on the previous week and the highest weekly import figure since November 2024.
That is also helping to compensate for relatively tight numbers of finished cattle in NI.
Last week’s cattle kill saw 9,458 head slaughtered in NI, which is closely in line with the average weekly kill so far in 2026. The total included 1,870 cows.
Cows
The quotes for fat cows are steady and the best for an O+ cow is at 506p/kg.
Deals for good quality suckler types remain around the 560p/kg mark, with the average price paid last week for an R3 cow at 558.8p, up 2.8p on the previous week. P3 grading cows averaged 515.6p/kg, with P2 cows at 499.3p/kg.
Big lift to hogget prices
The mart trade for hoggets is roaring ahead this week with heavies reaching £204 a head in Ballymena.
Quotes in the plants have jumped up to 755p/kg for 22kg and to 740p/kg for 22.5kg deadweight putting a hogget to £166, which is up £10 on last week.
Trade in Gortin was on fire with a top of £187 for 33kg and £185 for 30kg. Hoggets at 24.8kg sold for £174 or 701p/kg.
Trade in Kilrea was very strong, making to a top of 745p/kg for 21kg at £156.50 with 733p for 21.5kg at £157.50. The best hoggets at 24kg made £166 or 692p/kg. Heavier sorts made from £175 to £185.
In Markethill, a firm trade saw 750 hoggets selling from 650p to 716p/kg. The 716p was for 21.4kg at £153 with 708p for 21.2kg at £150. Heavies made from £177 to £185.
In Saintfield, trade was strong and hoggets sold from 665p to 744p/kg.
In Ballymena the trade was well up. Very heavy hoggets from 30.5kg to 34kg made from £184 to £205 a head, up by £20 and £35 on last week.
Quality hoggets at 26.5kg made £205 or 774p/kg with 22.5kg at £166 or 738p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin the top ewes made £295 and £245 with others from £160 to £240.
In Kilrea the top was £248 and in Markethill ewes sold to £268 with a run from £190 to £246.
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