Base factory quotes for U-3 grade cattle are generally unchanged this week, with most factories quoting between 324p and 328p/kg for steers and heifers.

More is available to regular suppliers, although deals for steers are more difficult to negotiate than heifers. Those with butcher-type heifers are able to do deals starting in the mid- to high-330s.

With some grass-fed cattle starting to appear and the overall beef market remaining dull, there is little pressure on agents to secure supplies. A number of factories maintain that they are booked into next week.

That is all reflected in the prices paid last week, with steers coming back nearly 1p/kg to average 323.26p/kg and heifers down 0.5p/kg to average 328.85p/kg. The price paid for U3 grade steers averaged 328.1p/kg, with U3 grading young bulls at 323p/kg. However, the U3 heifer price was significantly ahead at 338.2p/kg. R3 grading heifers averaged 335p/kg.

While the market in NI remains sluggish, it is no different in Britain. Across all steers, the average price paid last week in NI was only 2.7p/kg behind the equivalent price in Britain. On all heifers, NI finished 1.6p/kg ahead. According to the AHDB in England, prices have stabilised, but there is little prospect of any movement upwards until September.

The small differential in prices across the Irish Sea has limited the opportunity to trade. For the seventh week in succession, no NI cattle went for direct slaughter last week.

Elsewhere, the number of cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland into NI for direct slaughter came to 370 head last week. That is down 100 on the previous week, as more cattle came available locally. Trade in the opposite direction was only 76.

The trade in fat cows remains very steady, with a best quote for an R grade at 260p/kg.

For an O+3 grade, the best quote is at 250p/kg. Other plants are at 255p and 245p/kg respectively.

Last week, the prices paid for good-quality cows hardened slightly, with R3s at 274.5p/kg and R4s at 274.8p/kg.

Lamb trade

While the lamb quote is unchanged at one plant at 375p/kg, making a lamb worth £78.75 for 21kg halfweight, the quote has slipped 5p to 370p at another. And in the marts, prices paid are lower by between 8p and 20p/kg.

In Kilrea, 700 lambs made from 332p to 364p/kg, down by 8p/kg. In Massereene, 1,004 lambs made from 340p to 379p/kg, down by 10p for heavier lambs and up 4p for lighter store lamb sorts. In Saintfield, 832 lambs made from 322p to 380p/kg, down by 12p for the main weight ranges.

Rathfriland had a show of 935 lambs making from 320p to 406p/kg and averaged 350p/kg, down by 20p on last week.

In Lisahally, the trade eased a little with a batch of good lambs at 23.8kg making £77/head.

Good ewes continue to make good prices, with plenty over £100/head. The top price in Omagh was £108. Swatragh sold to a top of £139 for 700. In Massereene, the top was £114 for 244 sold and in Saintfield the top was £85. In Rathfriland, the top was £110 for 280 head sold.

Store lambs in Ballymena made from £69 to £80/head for the top Texels. Mule stores made to £69 and Suffolks to £68/head.