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Farmers with finished cattle to sell remain in a strong position to negotiate for higher prices when offloading stock.
Base quotes are unchanged, keeping U-3 grading animals on 342p/kg. However, there are growing reports that 350p/kg has been widely available as a starting price on in-spec animals this week.
Farmers report that 6p/kg to 10p/kg is being paid above this where a steady flow of prime cattle is on offer, particularly on animals with carcase weights under 380kg.
More regular sellers report deals above 360p/kg have been common, especially where finishers have bigger numbers of steers, and heifers in particular, to offload.
Prices on Angus cattle are exceptionally strong once all premiums have been applied on top of current base prices.
Young bulls are also becoming a valuable commodity. Farmers offloading suckler-bred animals under 400kg deadweight report prices on par with steers and heifers.
Prices on prime cattle are running 10p to 15p/kg ahead of those on offer during the same month last year. Supplies of cattle remain tight and factory agents are still working hard to secure numbers.
However, with the food service sector reopening and a significant price differential between NI and Irish cattle, last week saw the first imports of Irish cattle for direct slaughter at NI plants in almost 10 weeks.
Based on official price reports, there were big increases in the prices paid for finished cattle last week. Across all grades of steers and heifers, prices increased by 7.4p/kg to 338.2p/kg. The average U3 steer price rose by 7.9p to 345.6p/kg, while heifers jumped 7.2p to 350.6p/kg. Young bulls increased by 11.1p to 349.2p/kg.
Cows
While quotes on prime cattle were static, base prices on cull cows are still rising, with R3 animals up 5p to 275p/kg and O+3 cows on 265p/kg. Last week, the average price paid on R3 cows rose by 13p to 289.1p/kg.
Lamb trade
Supplies of spring lambs are increasing and quotes are on a downward trend. The best factory quote is 495p/kg, but as the availability of lambs increases, this quote will come under pressure. At the outlined quotes, lambs are worth £103.95 at the 21kg weight limit.
In the marts, the number of lambs on offer is also increasing and the trade is easing.
In Kilrea, 380 spring lambs sold from 460p to 494p/kg, down by 40p/kg on last week.
Massereene sold 672 spring lambs from 460p to 531p/kg, down by 30p/kg on last week. Lambs at 22kg to 23.5kg sold from £102.50 to £110/head. Heavies at 26.5kg made £109/head. Lighter lambs at 20kg made £100/head.
In Saintfield, 245 lambs sold from 440p to 500p/kg. Rathfriland sold 865 lambs from 460p to 500p/kg, with the sale average of 484p/kg down 26p/kg on last week.
Ewes
Fat ewes are still a solid trade in the marts. Omagh sold ewes to £104 and Swatragh sold to £148. In Kilrea, ewes made to £108. In Massereene, top price was £139 for Texels, £100 for Suffolks, £78 for Mules and £59 for Blackface. Saintfield sold ewes to £103 and in Rathfriland, the top price was £115/head.
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