The beef trade has a much steadier feel this week, with plants operating kill lines on fewer days due to the bank holiday weekend.

But prices, and processing demand in general, remain firm. Factories have left base quotes unchanged at 428p/kg for U-3 grading animals.

Cattle agents are relying heavily on regular finishers to maintain throughput and this is underpinning prices in the live ring, as finishers compete to replenish numbers.

Price reports for in-spec cattle are holding firm at levels similar to last week. This keeps steers moving around 444p to 446p/kg, with some deals pushing upwards to 448p/kg for regular finishers.

Heifers are again running ahead of steers, with prices generally starting around 446p/kg, although reports of deals at 448p and 450p/kg are common place.

Higher prices are available, but generally confined to specialist finishers handling bigger numbers and with a weekly killing arrangement in place.

Supplies of young bulls coming on the market are growing and reports from farmers with a regular supply of in-spec animals indicate deals in line with steer prices are on offer.

Elsewhere, deals of 440p to 442p/kg on bulls have been reported, while farmers offloading bulls exceeding carcase weight limits indicate deals above 440p/kg are hard to find.

Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all conformation increased by 3.95p/kg to 431.85p/kg.

On U3 grading animals, steers jumped 3.3p/kg to average 445.7p/kg, while heifers had a more modest increase of 1.7p to 446p/kg.

Young bulls at the same grade saw prices rising by 7.6p/kg to an average of 437.6p/kg.

Imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter totalled 283 head, while 262 animals moved in the opposite direction.

Cows

Processing demand for cull cows remains strong and quotes are holding at 370p/kg for R3 grading animals, with O+3 animals on 360p/kg.

However, deals start at 380p/kg and rise to 400p/kg for younger cows with higher levels of conformation.

NI sheep: strong demand lifting lamb prices

With plants now concentrating on new-season lambs, demand has increased and factory prices are improving.

Quotes are up 5p to 650p/kg, making a lamb worth £136.50 at the 21kg weight limit, although deals of 660p/kg are common place this week.

In Kilrea, 350 lambs sold from 591p to 668p/kg. Lighter lambs were a strong trade, with the 668p/kg paid for 19kg, or £127/head. Lambs at 20.5kg made £128 (624p/kg), 22kg at £136 (618p/kg) and 23kg made £141 (613p/kg).

In Massereene, a steady trade saw 394 lambs sell from 610p to 642p/kg for 21.5kg at £138. Lambs at 22kg made £141, 22kg made £140 and 23kg made £143.50.

In Saintfield, lambs sold to a top of £145 for 27kg, with a big run making from £140 to £143.

In Rathfriland, 555 lambs sold from 590p to 615p/kg, with a sale average of 600p/kg down 19p/kg on last week.

Ewes

There was a very strong trade in fat ewes this week. In Kilrea, the top price was £220. In Massereene, the top was £164 for a Blue, with £160 paid for Texels and £144 for Suffolks.

In Saintfield, the top price was £244, with a big run up to £200. In Rathfriland, the top was £282.

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