Quotes for clean cattle at meat plants in NI are steady this week, with a best quote for U3 grade steers and heifers of 590p/kg.

More is available, with reports suggesting some finishers are still working off quotes close to 600p/kg.

However, prices as high as 610p/kg no longer seem to be on the cards with factory agents at present.

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The official prices paid last week for U-3 grade steers dropped back to 606.1p/kg, which compares with 612.8p/kg the week previous.

Similarly, prices for U-3 grade heifers also weakened last week to 604.6p/kg, down from 611.4p/kg in the week ending 8 August.

Across all grades of steers, the average price paid last week was 594.4p/kg, which is a 10.5p/kg drop week on week.

For heifers, the price drop was 4.4p/kg, with the average sitting at 597.4p/kg last week.

Numbers

In terms of numbers, official kill figures for last week show that factory throughput of prime cattle was similar to the week before.

DAERA figures show there were 6,650 prime cattle killed in local plants last week.

The figure is up by just nine head from the week before, but is still the highest weekly prime cattle kill since mid-June.

The official figures also confirm that cows are plentiful and reports suggest there is a significant supply coming from dairy herds at present.

Last week, there were 2,186 cows processed in NI factories, which is the highest weekly cow kill this year to date.

Taken together, there were 8,946 cattle processed last week, which is also the highest total throughput since mid-June.

In terms of cross-border movements, official figures for last week were not available as the Irish Farmers Journal went to press.

However, in the week previous, there were 262 cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland for slaughter in NI.

Meanwhile, trade in the opposite direction was 138 head and no cattle went to the kill in Britain.

Cows

Quotes for fat cows are steady, with a best of 510p/kg for an R grade and to 500p for an O+ cow.

In terms of official prices paid last week, for an R3 grade cow, the average price eased back by 7.1p/kg to a figure of 534.5p/kg.

NI sheep: quotes slip back at NI factories

The trade in the marts for lambs was lower at the start of the week, but Ballymena, on Wednesday, held up well.

Quotes in the plants have eased by 10p and 20p to 670p and 660p. At 670p for 21kg yields £140.70 per lamb.

The trade in Gortin was lower. Heavy lambs at 25.1kg made 605p/kg or £152, with 27.8kg at 546p or £152. Middle weights at 23.9kg made 598p or £143, with 23.5kg at 595p or £140. Lighter lambs at 21.8kg made 626p or £136.50, with 21.1kg at 632p or £133.50/head.

In Kilrea, trade was easier. Stores made the top prices per kg. Lambs at 18.5kg made 649p or £120, with 19kg making 645p to £122.50 and 18kg at 644p or £116.

The best lambs at 21kg made 629p a kg or £131/head, with 22kg at 614p or £135/head. Lambs at 24kg made 621p or £149, with 25kg at 622p or £155.50/head.

Markethill had a slacker trade for fat lambs. Good-quality heavy lots sold to 622p/kg for 26.7kg at £166, with 615p for 30.4kg at £187. Quality mid-weights sold to 631p/kg for 21.8kg at £137.50, with 623p for 20.7kg at £129.

Store lamb prices were steady, with 815p/kg paid for 13kg at £106 followed by 791p for 13.4kg also at £106.

In Ballymena the trade was steady. Heavy lambs at 29kg made £150 or 517p/kg, with 28.5kg at £144 or 505p/kg. Lighter lambs at 22.5kg made £138 or 613p/kg, with 20kg at £127 or 635p/kg. Store lambs at 19.5kg made £118 or 605p, with 18kg at £117 or 650p a kg.

Fat ewes

The trade in fat ewes held up well this week. In Gortin, the top fat ewe made £300 with a run from £180 to £240. In Kilrea the top was £218.

In Markethill, the best ewes made from £ 170 to £255. Second-quality made from £120 to £160/head.

In Saintfield, the best ewes made to £246 and in Rathfriland £228/head.