Local factories have maintained their quotes for clean cattle, giving a best of 612p for U-3 grading steers and heifers.

While those base quotes have been generally steady in recent weeks, the actual deals on offer have been edging down.

Farmers report that factory agents have tried to take another 4p/kg off prices this week, leaving starting offers around the 630p/kg mark for U-3 cattle. However, more is available, especially for heifers, and the expectation is that prices should hold into the start of next week.

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That is partly in response to a relatively steady beef market in Britain, where prices paid have been little changed since early February.

Last week, the average price paid for R3 steers and heifers in Britain was just over 638p/kg, which is 2p to 3p/kg ahead of NI.

In NI, the price paid last week for a U-3 grade steer was 637.3p, down 2.2p on the previous week, while a U-3 grade heifer was at 639.3p, down by 1.9p.

Across all steers and heifers, the price paid last week averaged 632.1p/kg, which was actually up 0.2p on the previous week.

That increase was mainly due to higher prices being recorded for O grades – those averages tend to be heavily influenced by the proportion of cattle which end up availing of traditional breed bonuses.

ROI

In the Republic of Ireland, the market remains under pressure, especially further down the country. The gap to NI prices is now well over 30p/kg across most grades.

Kill

The cattle kill last week in NI was impacted by the bank holiday and finished at 8,449 head, which was the lowest weekly total since the start of the year.

While factory agents maintain there are enough cattle coming forward, numbers remain relatively tight. Only once in 2026 has the weekly kill crossed 10,000 head. During the same period in 2025, it crossed that threshold on six occasions.

Cows

The quotes for fat cows remain steady and the best for an O+ cow is at 506p/kg.

However, demand for good-quality sucklers is strong and that is reflected in last week’s prices paid, with R3 up 9p at 569.5p/kg and R4 up 6.1p at 567.6p/kg.

NI sheep: hogget trade up again

The mart trade for hoggets is up again this week and factories have followed suit.

Quotes in the plants are at 810p for 22kg and 22.5kg deadweight, putting hoggs to a max of £182.25.

Gortin saw record prices. A heavyweight at 36.5kg made £235, with others from £190 to £200. Hoggs at 24kg made from £170 to £146.

Trade in Kilrea was very strong, making to a top of 824p/kg for 22.5kg at £185.50, with 823p for 21.5kg at £177 and 804p for 22.5kg at £181. Heavier sorts made from £195.50 to £211/head, up by £5 to £13 on last week.

In Markethill, midweight hoggets made from 720p to 770p/kg. The 770p was for 20kg at £154, with 765p for 23kg at £176. Heavier sorts sold to 757p for 24.3kg at £184.

Stores sold very well to 817p/kg for 18kg at £147.

In Saintfield, heavy hoggs made £189 to £200. Best price for 25kg was £185.

In Rathfriland, hoggs at 32kg sold for £199, with 28kg at £194 and 27kg at £190.

In Ballymena, heavy hoggets at 30.5kg made £206 with 25.5kg at £194.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top price was £314, with a run from £240 to £296. In Kilrea, the top was £290, while in Markethill it was £292, with a run from £180 to £270.

Ewes in Saintfield sold to £270 and in Rathfriland to £298/head.