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The next fortnight is a crucial period for the beef trade, with processing demand expected to intensify as factories finalise orders for the Christmas market.
On top of this, the FIFA World Cup kicks off this weekend and is expected to boost sales of manufacturing beef into the food service markets.
Both factors should keep a floor under the trade into December in terms of prices returned to farmers.
Some factory agents are hinting the supply of finished cattle could start tightening after local plants handled unprecedented numbers of cattle in recent weeks.
This is also reflected by LMC figures for beef cattle on farm at 1 November. Cattle between 24 and 30 months of age is down 5% year on year, with animals between 18 and 24 months down 1.9%.
Base quotes on U-3 animals remain on 428p/kg at the top of the market, with steers moving off farm between 440p and 442p/kg.
Heifers continue to make 442p to 446p/kg, with butcher-type animals on 450p/kg. Young bulls are generally 430p to 432p/kg, but deals of 436p to 438p/kg are available.
Processing demand is increasing in Britain, with significant price gaps to those on offer at local plants.
Prime steers and heifers are making in excess of 460p/kg at Scottish plants, with abattoirs in England paying 455p to 460p/kg depending on availability.
Last week, the NI average price for steers and heifers increased by 1p to 428.62p/kg, with U3 steers rising by 1.9p to 441.8p/kg.
Heifers at the same grade fell by 1.3p to 443.8p/kg, but bulls improved by 1.7p to 431.8p/kg.
Cows
Throughput of cull cows reached a record high in early November and with prime cattle getting priority on kill lines, prices have been trending downwards in line with official quotes.
Base prices for O+3 cows are on 340p/kg, with R3 animals on 350p/kg. Farmers with young suckler cows are faring best, with deals above 360p/kg.
NI sheep: lamb prices rising in marts
Marts saw smaller shows of fat lambs this week, helping to harden prices. Competition from agents for Irish plants has also stepped up a gear.
Local factories are quoting 510p/kg to 22kg deadweight, making a lamb worth £112, but 10p to 15p/kg more is available for meal-finished lambs.
In Kilrea, 720 lambs sold from 460p to 493p/kg, up 11p/kg for lighter lambs. Lots at 23kg made £112.50, with 20.5kg at £100.
A small show of 478 lambs in Massereene sold from 460p to 498p/kg, up 10p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs at 28kg made £118.50, 24kg to £117.50, with a big run from £110 to £116 for 23.5kg to 27.5kg.
Saintfield sold 812 lambs from 463p to 540p/kg, up 8p/kg for heavier lambs. Heavy lambs at 31kg made £122, 27kg to £117.50, 24kg to £114 and 22kg to £103.50. The best light lambs at 20kg made £87, with 17kg at £86.50.
Rathfriland sold 402 lambs from 440p to 452p/kg, with the sale average of 480p/kg up 4p/kg on last week.
In Ballymena, lambs at 27kg made £119, 26.5kg to £117, 26kg to £116.5, with 24.5kg to £112.50. A great pen of Texels at 22kg made £109.50. Lighter lambs at 21kg made £100.
Store lambs are a firm trade, with good Texel lots making £88.50 to £98.
Ewes
The trade for fat ewes is steady this week. In Kilrea, top price was £187. Massereene sold ewes to £110 for Texels, with Mules and Shropshires at £90. In Saintfield, top price was £159, with others on £126 to £153. Rathfriland sold ewes sold to a top of £184.
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