The quotes for clean cattle have slipped again at one plant, this time by 6p/kg, and while others have indicated they are unchanged, it means the best quote for U-3 grade steers and heifers is down to 610p/kg.
Deals on offer to regular suppliers remain well ahead of this quote, although there is increasing reluctance to go beyond the 630p/kg mark for steers and heifers.
After nine consecutive weeks of increases, average prices paid last week did edge back slightly.
U3 steers were down 0.5p to 632.1p/kg, with R3s down 0.3p at 629.5p/kg.
U3 heifers reduced by 1.2p to 633.8p/kg and R3s dropped 0.8p to 630p/kg. Across all steers and heifers, the average price paid was down 0.5p at 624.2p/kg.
This time last year, that average stood at 650p/kg and while it did come back by around 8p/kg at the end of November, it then held right through to the following February.
Britain
The prices paid across Britain last week were generally little changed, with R3 steers and heifers around the 655p/kg mark. However, there are reports of some downward pressure on the trade this week, with factories in England taking 4p to 6p/kg off quotes.
In the Republic of Ireland (ROI), some factories have tried to take another 4c/kg off prices, although, in general, the market there is steady, but still around 60p/kg behind NI.
Weekly kill
There is no shortage of cattle coming forward for slaughter in NI. Last week’s total kill of 11,206 was the largest since November 2024. The total included 8,333 prime cattle and 2,641 cows.
Also in those figures are 405 cattle imported from ROI for direct slaughter in NI. That is up slightly on the 372 from the previous week and also ahead of the weekly average for the year to date. Just 34 cattle were sent in the opposite direction.
Cows
The best quotes for fat cows are at 520p for an R grade and 510p for an O+ animal.
Reports suggest cow prices are also under some pressure, with the best paying factories taking 5p/kg off deals on offer this week.
Last week, the average price paid for R3 cows was down 4.1p at 539.1p/kg, with R4s down 6.8p at 535.5p/kg. P2 grades were back 8.5p at 472.9p/kg.
NI lambs: no change to quotes
Quotes for fat lambs at the plants are steady, with a best of 690p for 22kg. In the marts, the trade is mostly unchanged.
In Gortin, heavy lambs at 30kg made £162.50, with 28kg at £159. Lambs at 24kg sold to £148, with 22kg at £140. Store lambs were a strong trade, with 20kg selling for up to £128 and 19kg to £119.
In Kilrea, 23kg sold for up to £148 or 644p/kg. Light lambs made the top prices per kg, with 18kg at £122 or 678p/kg and 17.5kg at £118 or 674p/kg.
In Markethill, heavy lambs sold to 612p for 25kg at £153, with 598p for 24.1kg at £144. Good mid-weights sold to 663p/kg for 20.2kg at £134, with 659p for 20.5kg at £135.
Light store lambs sold to 756p/kg for 15.6kg at £118 and 750p for 15.2kg at £114. Heavier sorts made 725p/kg for 17.1kg at £124.
In Rathfriland, heavy lambs at 25.5kg to 26.2kg sold from £149 to £151, with 24kg at £144 to £146.
In Ballymena, lambs at 24kg made £145 or 604p/kg, with stores at 17.5kg selling for £120 or 686p/kg.
Fat ewes
In Gortin, ewes sold from £164 to £228 and in Kilrea, the top was £266.
In Markethill, trade was slightly easier, with the best ewes making from £140 to £200. In Rathfriland, the top was £238.
