The plants have maintained their quotes this week for clean cattle, giving a best quote of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

That base quote has remained unchanged since the end of February, although over the period the prices paid have edged back a little.

Farmers report most factories are still offering deals starting around the 634p to 636p/kg mark for U-3 grades, with slightly more going to larger suppliers and 2p/kg extra being offered for heifers.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a short week due to the Easter holidays, agents maintain they are well booked into next week and, overall, there are enough cattle coming forward to meet their needs.

Elsewhere, the trade in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) has steadied over the last couple of weeks, but the big price reductions seen since the start of the year have created a price gap to NI of around 40p/kg.

At the end of December 2025, the price paid for U3 heifers in ROI was the sterling equivalent of 654p/kg – that price is down by 50p/kg since then.

Prices back

Over the same period, prices paid in NI are back by around 12p/kg, while, in Britain, it is closer to a 10p/kg cut.

Last week, the price paid for U-3 grading steers in Britain averaged 643.7p/kg, up 1.9p on the previous week, with R3 steers up 0.8p to average 640.3p/kg.

The trade for heifers was generally steady.

That leaves prices paid in Britain around 10p/kg ahead of NI, although the gap is narrower for O grades given the influence of native breed schemes on the average price paid for these cattle in NI.

Reports from Britain suggest overall cattle numbers remain relatively tight, which is continuing to support the trade, even though actual sales volumes are down in major retailers due to higher prices filtering through.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows in NI are steady at the plants and the best starting quote for an O+ cow is at 505p/kg.

Actual price deals for well-fleshed R grading cows continue to start around the 550p/kg mark.

With demand remaining strong for manufacturing beef, the trade for cows in Britain is up by nearly 20p/kg since late February and 20p to 30p/kg ahead of NI prices paid. Last week, the price paid for R3 cows in Britain averaged 577.4p/kg.

NI sheep: firm trade for hoggets and lambs

The mart trade for hoggets is firm and quotes in the plants are at 830p for 22kg and 810p for 22.5kg deadweight, putting hoggets to a maximum of £182.60.

Spring lamb quotes at ABP Linden are at 860p/kg or £180.60/head for 21kg, although limited numbers are needed, as the supermarkets have not yet switched from hoggets.

Gortin had strong prices for hoggets. A heavyweight at 32.5kg made £225, with others from £180 to £204. Hoggets at 23.3kg made £183 or 785p/kg.

In Kilrea, spring lambs made £178.50 for 20.5kg or 871p/kg, with £175 for 20kg or 875p/kg.

Heavy hoggets sold to £204 and £203 for 35kg.

In Saintfield, a small show saw spring lambs making £190 for 22.5kg and 25kg. Hoggets were steady at £194 for 29kg and £180 to £190 for 24kg to 28kg.

In Ballymena, spring lambs made £200 and £198 or 909p and 900p for 22kg.

Hoggets at 28kg made £195, with 25.5kg at £187 and 24.5kg at £180.

Fat ewes

The trade for fat ewes is very strong.

In Gortin, the top price was £300 with a run from £230 to £290.

In Saintfield, top price was £292, with a run from £170 to £264. And in Rathfriland, the top was £348.