There is plenty of life in the beef trade this week with farmers reporting a range of price deals on offer to secure numbers.

That said, processors have left base quotes unchanged, which keeps U-3 grading animals on 354p to 360p/kg.

Farmers offloading smaller numbers of cattle report in-spec steers and heifers moving off farm at 364p to 366p/kg.

More regular sellers are securing prices of 368p to 370p/kg on steers and in-spec bulls. Larger finishers indicate there is another 2p to 4p/kg on offer for bigger numbers of steers offloaded on a regular killing arrangement.

Cattle agents indicate supplies coming onto the market are, more or less, in line with processing demand

Heifers are commanding prices of 370p to 376p/kg depending on numbers offered, with a few reports of 380p/kg for top quality butcher type animals at the upper end of the market.

Cattle agents indicate supplies coming onto the market are, more or less, in line with processing demand.

However, some agents have hinted that numbers are likely to tighten over the coming weeks with farmers housing forward stores as the grazing season finishes. Housing is expected to disrupt the flow of finished cattle coming on to the market.

The average price paid on U3 steers rose by 1.6p to 368.6p/kg.

Cattle agents also indicate that tighter restrictions surrounding food service outlets is expected to drive retail sales of Red Tractor beef, which should underpin demand from local processing plants.

Last week, the average price paid across all grades of steers and heifers rose by 1p/kg to 359.57p/kg. The average price paid on U3 steers rose by 1.6p to 368.6p/kg.

There was a significant rise in heifer prices with U3 grading animals up 4.6p to 373p/kg. Young bulls also benefits from higher prices, rising by 0.7p/kg to an average of 360.7p/kg.

Cows

Base quotes on cull cows continue to stagnate at 280p/kg for R3 grading animals with O+3 cows on 270p/kg.

Deals of 300p/kg continue to be offered for good quality suckler types with prices paid on R3 cows averaging 293.7p/kg last week.

Lamb trade

With no real change to the number of finished lambs coming forward, the live trade for fat lambs is hardening with some marts showing small increases in price. Quotes at local processing plants are unchanged at 435p/kg, making a lamb worth £91.35 at the 21kg carcase limit.

In Kilrea, 500 lambs sold from 391p to 442p/kg, unchanged for heavier lambs.

Massereene had a show of 832 lambs which sold from 390p to 415p/kg, no change on last week.

Store lambs at 17kg sold from £77 to £80/head

In Saintfield, a show of 502 lambs sold from 390p to 471p/kg, unchanged for heavier lambs. Lambs at 25kg made from £94 to £99, with 23kg making £86 to £90 and 22kg making £85 to £87. Store lambs at 17kg sold from £77 to £80/head.

The trade in Lisahally was slightly firmer. Top price was £97 for 25kg with lambs averaging 23.5kg making £92.

In Rathfriland, 676 lambs sold from 386p to 500p/kg, up by 6p to 10p/kg on last week. The sale average was 413p/kg making the average-weight lamb worth £95.

Ewes

The trade in fat ewes is holding up with top prices relatively steady. Omagh sold ewes to £102 with Swatragh selling ewes to £114 and Kilrea to £106/head. In Massereene, ewes made £100. In Saintfield, heavy ewes made £112 to £117 with plenty making £75 to £105/head. In Rathfriland, top was £110/head.

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