Quotes for fat cattle have steadied this week and the best is at 614p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

The local trade has been under some downward pressure since the end of November, partly due to farmers sending on cattle before 1 January 2026, when the maximum age limit in the £75 per head beef carbon reduction scheme drops from 28 to 27 months.

However, with cattle brought forward, it left numbers tighter than expected at the end of December and into January. Reports from farmers suggest some factory lairages were very quiet midweek.

ADVERTISEMENT

The drop-off in numbers has helped to steady the trade, with deals generally around the 650p/kg mark for U-3 steers and heifers.

Last week, the average price paid for U3 steers was at 647.4p/kg, with U3 heifers at 647.6p/kg. Those prices are down by 3.7p and 2.5p respectively on the previous week.

Across all steers and heifers, prices paid averaged 642.3p/kg, which is down 1.5p on the average from mid-December.

Britain

While prices have generally eased back, they are still well ahead of the same week in 2025. This time last year, base quotes were at 522p/kg, with prices paid pushing upwards to 540p/kg.

In Britain, prices paid have also come back in recent weeks, to leave U and R grading cattle around 6p to 12p/kg ahead of NI.

Last week, R3 grading steers in Britain averaged 652p/kg, down nearly 10p since mid-December.

Prices paid in the Republic of Ireland have also been heading downwards, with the trade now 6p to 10p/kg behind that in NI for R grades.

With a relatively small price differential, the number of ROI cattle coming north for slaughter remains subdued, with a weekly average of just 262 head in the first three weeks of December.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are also steady at NI factories, with the best for an O+ cow at 505p/kg.

However, more is available and prices have edged up in the last couple of weeks.

Last week, the price paid for an R3 cow was 557.4p, up 2.8p, with R4s at 551.2p, up 7.1p/kg.

NI sheep: lamb trade very strong

The trade in the marts for fat lambs is very strong, with prices increasing by up to £10/head.

The plants have increased quotes to a best of 645p/kg, making a lamb worth £141.90 at the 22kg weight limit.

In Gortin, prices reached £160 for 34kg or 461p/kg. Lambs at 25.5kg made £155 or 607p/kg.

In Kilrea, 650 lambs sold from 592p to 622p/kg.

Lambs at 24kg made £149 or 622p, with 23kg at £142 or 617p/kg. Heavier lambs made from £150 to a top of £155.

In Markethill, adverse weather resulted in a small show. Lambs at 20.5kg made £128 or 624p/kg, with 21.6kg at £134 or 620p/kg.

Heavier lambs sold from £150 to £162.50, the latter for 30.9kg half weight.

Stores made from 620p to 695p/kg for 17.4kg at £121.

Saintfield had a sharp trade, with prices up by almost £10/head. Heavy Texels at 33kg made £161.50, with 30kg at £156. Suffolks at 30kg sold for £155, while Charollais at 26kg made £150.

In Ballymena, lambs at 32.5kg sold for £166, with 29kg at £160 and 26.5kg at £150. Lambs at 24kg made £149.50, with 22.5kg at £137.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the best fat ewes made £234 and £220, with others from £165 to £220.

In Kilrea, the top was £238.

In Markethill, top ewes made from £220 to £232, with others from £150 to £216.

And in Saintfield, the best Texels made a massive £324 and £306, with others from £204 to £304/head.