There are early signs that beef prices are starting to harden, as supplies of prime steers and heifers begin to tighten.

Several farmers report that they have managed to secure higher prices on in-spec animals, indicating that cattle agents have been more active in sourcing numbers this week.

However, any potential price increase is likely to be a gradual affair as plants will look to manage throughput to keep a cap on the trade.

Some cattle agents state they have sufficient numbers booked for next week. But as the flow of factory fit animals slows, supplies of prime cattle may be less readily available in the coming weeks when the focus will be on filling Christmas orders.

Plants have left base quotes unchanged on 320p/kg for U-3 grading steers, with heifers holding on 322p/kg.

Deals on steers start from 320p/kg for those with limited numbers, although reports suggest 322p/kg to 324p/kg is freely available, with a further 2p/kg to 4p/kg being paid at the top end of the market.

Farmers with a steady supply of in-spec heifers report deals of 328p/kg to 330p/kg being more commonly available.

Others report deals of 332p/kg to 334p/kg, with animals moving to slaughter inside a week of booking date.

Last week’s cattle kill fell by 600 head to 10,130, making it the lowest kill in six weeks.

However, as plants are working to capacity at present, it was still the sixth-highest cattle kill this year.

The average price paid for steers and heifers increased by 1.8p/kg to 317.7p/kg last week, with the average price for U3 steers rising by 1.3p/kg to 323.3p/kg. Heifers at the same grade averaged 328.5p/kg, down 0.4p/kg on the previous week.

Cows

Quotes for cows remain on 260p/kg for R3 grading animals, with O+3 cows on a top quote of 250p/kg.

Last week, the average price paid for R3 cows was 268p/kg.

NI comment

The lamb trade remains steady this week, with factory quotes holding on 345p/kg. This makes lambs worth £72.45 at the 21kg carcase weight limit. Steady base quotes are being reflected in the live trade, with prices little changed on last week, except for lightweight store lambs which have increased.

In Kilrea, 420 lambs sold from 307p to 366p/kg, up by 3p/kg for heavier lambs and by 32p/kg for lighter store animals.

Massereene had a show of 926 lambs, selling from 305p to 330p/kg, down by 5p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs from 26kg to 28kg sold to a maximum of £75. Lambs at 23kg and 24kg made £73 to £74, with 22kg lots selling for £71.

In Saintfield, 525 lambs sold from 300p/kg to 376p/kg, no change for the main weight ranges, but up 24p/kg for lighter lambs.

Rathfriland had a show of 728 lambs selling from 309p to 388p/kg, with a sale average of 320p/kg, down by 1p/kg on last week.

The fat ewe trade has eased again this week with lower top prices in all marts. The top in Omagh was £82, while Swatragh sold 200 ewes to a top price of £79. In Massereene, top price was £82 for a pen of Charollais ewes, with Mules at £70. In Saintfield and Rathfriland, ewes made £80/head.

Store lambs sold on Monday in Ballymena for £62 to £66 for Charollais animals, with Texels making £61.50 to £64. Mules made £62.50, Suffolks made £60 and Blackfaces made £58.50 and £60.

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