This is a subscriber-only article
The mart trade in NI continues to offer a competitive market alternative to meat plants for top-quality, heavy-fleshed cattle.
Sale reports over the past week show that both slaughter-fit steers and heifers are selling from 180p/kg to 195p/kg for U-grading animals.
At the outlined prices, this converts to beef prices ranging from 321p/kg to 348p/kg at 56% kill-out.
Current factory prices are 322p/kg to 328p/kg for U-grades.
Lighter cattle
However, the prospect of a no-deal Brexit is affecting the trade for forward stores.
According to mart managers, buyers are less active on cattle suited to finishing in late 2019.
A 550kg store is worth £71 to £104 less than in spring.
However, the demand for lighter cattle weighing 380kg to 420kg is more robust.
Current prices are typically 195p/kg for good-quality lots, with plainer cattle averaging 170p/kg.
But that is also down on May when good-quality lots were averaging 210p, with plainer cattle at 185p/kg.
SHARING OPTIONS: