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Supplies of finished cattle remain broadly in line with processing demand, keeping a firm floor under the beef trade at present.
Another factor underpinning prices is the level of buying demand in the live ring, with specialist finishers being extremely active for short keep cattle.
Mart managers indicate good-quality U grading animals continue to command prices of 250p/kg to 270p/kg, which converts to finished prices ranging from 439p/kg to 474p/kg. Some farmers with less negotiating power report a waiting period of close on two weeks before cattle can be moved for slaughter, whereas regular finishers are moving animals in a much shorter timeframe.
The upper end of the official factory quotes is unchanged at 426p/kg for U-3 grading animals, although 430p/kg is a more common starting point across all plants.
Deals on steers are on par with last week, opening at 436p/kg for farmers with smaller numbers and rising to 438p/kg, or 440p/kg, for more regular finishers.
Heifers are generally moving between 438p/kg and 440p/kg, although there are deals with another 2p/kg to 4p/kg on offer above this for butcher-type animals.
Young bulls are starting on 432p/kg and rise to 436p/kg for some animals, although meeting certain weight limits and fat scores are key factors to securing the higher price.
Christmas and World Cup
There are reports that processors are looking to source cattle for the Christmas kill from next week onwards, as well as procuring animals to meet demand for manufacturing beef ahead of the Fifa World Cup in November.
Last week, the average price paid across steers and heifers of all grades eased by 0.6p/kg to 426.16p/kg.
On U3 animals, steers were unchanged at 437.7p/kg, while heifers slipped by 2.4p/kg to average 439.8p/kg.
Cows
Processing demand for cull cows is reasonably steady, with quotes holding at 365p/kg for R3 animals, while O+3 cows are on a base of 355p/kg. Deals continue to hover around 380p/kg for good-quality suckler types.
Mart managers report fewer lambs on offer this week, underpinning prices. Factory quotes have increased to 505p/kg, making lamb worth £106.05 for 21kg deadweight.
In Kilrea, 790 lambs sold from 452p to 482p/kg, little changed on last week. Lambs at 22kg made £108, 23kg at £110, 25kg sold to £112.50 and 24kg made £107.
In Massereene, 778 head made 440p to 472p/kg, down 10p to 18p/kg on last week. Lambs at 19.5kg made £92, 22kg at £102.50 with heavy lambs at 31kg making £112.50, 26kg making £112 and 25kg to £111.
In Saintfield, 606 lambs sold in a steady trade from 444p to 500p/kg. Top prices for heavy lambs weighing 28.5kg hit £122, with 26.5kg at £113.50. Lambs at 25kg sold to £110, 22kg to £98.50 and 17kg to £82.50.
In Rathfriland, a show of 1,039 lambs sold from 450p/kg to 515p/kg, with the sale average of 461p/kg up 1p/kg on last week.
Ewes
The trade in fat ewes has eased at some marts but improved at others depending on quality. In Kilrea, the top price was £140. Massereene reached a top of £152. In Saintfield, the top price was £166 with others making £100 to £155. In Rathfriland, top was £156.
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