There is more optimism in the northern beef trade, with an improvement somewhat in quotes across the board.
According to a spokesperson for the LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission), base quotes from the NI plants for in-spec U-3 prime cattle ended this week ranging from 432-446p/kg.
Mid-week quotes for O+3 grading cows improved to range from 324-340p/kg.
According to the body, similar quotes are expected for all types of cattle early next week.
All in all, the deadweight trade for cattle “firmed” across a number of grades from the previous week, the spokesperson noted.
While the average price paid for steers last week was back by 1.2p/kg to 444.2p/kg, the average R3 steer price reported only a marginal decline of 0.2p/kg bringing it to 457p/kg.
The average price paid for R3 heifers in NI last week was also reported at 457p/kg, up just over half-a-penny from the week prior, while the average heifer price was up by a similar margin to 446.1p/kg.
Meanwhile, for the first time in eleven weeks, the average cow price in NI reported an increase, bringing it to 298.5p/kg.
The LMC reported that prime U-3 cattle will range from 432-446p/kg next week, with R-3s at 426-444p/kg, O+3s at 420-438p/kg and P+3s from 364-283p/kg, including bonuses where applicable.
Meanwhile, it anticipates that cull cow prices, for O+3s, will vary from 324-340p, from 324-335p this week.
Tiara tops the trade
In other beef-related news, we brought you a report from the Northern Ireland Cattle Club’s inaugural Ladies in Red Show and Sale.
Records were shattered at the Northern Ireland Limousin Cattle Club’s inaugural Ladies in Red show and sale, conducted by Harrison and Hetherington in conjunction with JA McClelland and Sons at Ballymena Mart, writes Julie Hazelton.
Prices peaked at 24,000gns, surpassing the 22,000gns breed record for a female sold at an official society auction in Northern Ireland.
Twenty-three heifers averaged £6,263, and eight lots were sold for export to herds in England, Scotland and Ireland.
Read more on this news article.
See more farming news on www.thatsfarming.com
