Base factory quotes for beef cattle in NI are unchanged again this week, with the best at 614p/kg for U-3 grades.

Reports from farmers suggest the actual prices on offer are also steady, with most regular suppliers working off a quote of 646p/kg to 648p/kg for U-3 cattle, with slightly more going for larger finishers and butcher-type heifers.

Those deals are reflected in the prices paid last week, with both U3 steers and heifers up 0.1p to average 649.2p/kg and 650.6p/kg respectively.

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Across all steers and heifers, the prices paid averaged 642.1p/kg – that average has moved very little since early December 2025.

While the market in NI has been remarkably steady, with relatively tight numbers in line with demand, it is a different situation in Britain, where prices paid continue to ease.

At the start of December 2025, the price paid for R3 steers averaged 668.9p/kg, which was 20p/kg ahead of NI prices.

Last week, R3 steers in Britain averaged 641.1p/kg, which is 4.1p/kg behind the average in NI.

Reports from Britain suggest the market for beef in retail and food service is sluggish as consumers look to cut back on spending post-Christmas.

There have also been more cattle coming forward, with numbers in January up 1% on the same month in 2025 at 151,670. Over the same period, the NI prime kill is down 6% .

Last week saw 10,148 cattle slaughtered in NI, which is the highest weekly kill so far in 2026 and 284 head more than the previous week.

That increase was due to higher numbers of prime cattle coming forward, with the cow kill back 175 head at 2,235.

ROI

The market in the Republic of Ireland is also steady, which leaves a price gap to NI of around 20p/kg for better conformation grades.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows are unchanged at NI plants and the best quote for an O+ cow is at 506p/kg. Deals for well-fleshed R grades remain around the 560p/kg mark.

Last week, the average price paid for R3 cows was up 5.2p at 556.1p/kg, with R4s up 0.7p at 560.5p/kg.

NI sheep: robust trade for hoggets

The firm trade in NI marts for hoggets has continued and factories have increased quotes to 640p and 650p/kg for 22kg and 22.5kg deadweight.

A strong trade in Gortin saw prices reaching £171 for 38kg and £160 for 35kg. Hoggets at 26kg made £150, with 23.2kg at £142.

Kilrea had a sharp trade, with 1,050 hoggets selling from 600p to 667p/kg, up by 6p for heavier sorts. Hoggets at 23.5kg made £147, with 22.5kg at £140.

In Markethill, a steady trade saw 860 hoggets making up to 625p/kg for 20kg at £125. Hoggets at 24kg made to £146 or 608p/kg, with 20kg at £125 or 625p/kg.

Stores were a good trade, making to 672p/kg for 18kg at £121.

In Saintfield, 610 hoggets sold from 585p to 725p/kg, up by 10p for heavier sorts. The heaviest hoggets from 25kg to 30kg made from £145 to £153.

In Ballymena, the trade was steady. Hoggets at 22.5kg made £147 or 653p/kg, with 23.5kg at £152.50 or 649p/kg.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the best ewes sold to £220, with others from £180 to £208.

In Kilrea, the top was £248, the best ewes at Markethill made from £170 to £256 and in Saintfield, top ewes sold to £208, with a run from £170 to £194.