Although local factories have maintained their base quotes for clean cattle this week at a best of 612p/kg for U-3 grade steers and heifers, the actual deals on offer continue to edge down.

Farmers report that some negotiations have started off around the 634p/kg mark, although others are closer to the 638p/kg that was generally on offer last week for U-3 steers. A couple of pence more is available for heifers.

The average price paid for U3 steers last week was at 639.5p/kg, down 3.6p on the previous week and the lowest U3 steer average since June 2025. U3 heifers were down 2.7p to average 641.2p/kg.

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Across all steers and heifers, the price last week was back 4.6p to average 631.9p/kg.

That average has now fallen over 22p/kg when compared with last November and is at its lowest point since early July 2025.

Britain

There also remains some downward pressure on the market in Britain, but reductions seen in price are less severe than in NI.

Earlier this year, NI prices were slightly ahead of those in Britain. However, that situation is now reversed, with prices paid for U and R grades in NI last week around 5p/kg behind those across the Irish Sea.

ROI trade

The market in NI is not being helped by the trade in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), where processors are looking to take another 10c/kg off prices paid. That leaves a gap to NI of over 30p/kg, dependent on grade.

With cheaper cattle available in ROI, some factories are using direct imports for slaughter to help keep a check on prices paid in NI.

Last week saw 738 ROI cattle imported into NI for slaughter, which is more than double the weekly average across all of 2025 and the highest import figure since November 2024. No cattle were sent in the opposite direction.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are steady in NI, with the best for an O+ cow at 506p/kg.

Deals for suckler types remain around the 560p/kg mark, with the price paid for R4 grades averaging 561.5p/kg last week, with R3 grades at 560.5p/kg.

Cull dairy cows are also a robust trade, with the price paid for P2 and P3 grades up by 2.7p and 1.6p last week to average 502p and 517.2p/kg respectively.

NI sheep: hoggets hit 800p/kg

NI factory quotes for hoggets are up to 800p for 22kg and to 790p for 22.5kg deadweight, putting hoggets up by £10 and £11/head on last week.

Mart trade is very strong. In Kilrea, hoggets sold to a top of 791p/kg paid for 23kg at £182, with 788p for 24.5kg at £193 and 781p for 23.5kg at £183.50.

Heavier sorts made from £190.50 to £198.50, up by £13 to £15 on last week.

In Markethill, 750 head sold in a firmer trade. Midweight hoggets made from 720p to 802p/kg. The 802p was for 20.7kg at £166, with 764p for 20.3kg at £155.

Heavier sorts made to 760p for 24kg at £182.50, with overweights selling from £190 to £198.

Stores sold very well to 766p/kg for 17.5kg at £134.

In Saintfield, trade was very strong and hoggets sold from 690p to 780p, up by 25p to 36p/kg on last week.

In Ballymena, the trade was solid. Heavy hoggets at 30kg made £197/head, with 31kg at £193.

Very good hoggets at 24.5kg made £188 or 767p/kg, with 22.5kg making £173 or 769p/kg and 23.5kg at £188 or 800p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Swatragh, the top ewes made £328 and in Kilrea, ewes sold to £262.

In Markethill, the top price was £292, with a run from £190 to £284.

In Saintfield, the top was £280 and in Rathfriland, it was £292/head.