With nearly 50p/kg taken off prices paid since the end of April, it looks like that slide could be coming to an abrupt halt.

The number of finished cattle going through marts has dried up significantly and numbers are also tight on farms.

As a result, there are increasing concerns among factory agents about supplies in the coming weeks.

Some have reacted quicker than others to try to manage supplies and that has resulted in a big range of base quotes for U-3 grading cattle.

Most are in the range of 604p to 618p/kg, which at the top end, is similar to last week. However, others have quoted as far as 640p/kg for heifers, which is up 22p/kg on the best quote we received last week.

The prices paid continue to be well ahead of the lower quotes on offer, with farmers reporting prices around the 640p/kg mark.

Last week, the prices paid for U3 steers and heifers were back around 10p/kg to average 646.2p/kg and 641.4p/kg respectively. The average price paid for all steers was down 6.7p at 632.4p/kg, with heifers down 8.6p/kg at 631.5p/kg.

Rapidly falling prices over the last six weeks has encouraged farmers to sell, potentially further compounding issues with tight supply in the coming weeks. In that six-week period, the total kill was 60,046 head, up nearly 6% on the same period in 2024.

With Republic of Ireland prices around 10p/kg behind NI, there is reduced incentive to bring cattle north for slaughter. The trade in cattle coming in last week was 192 head.

Trade in the opposite direction was 66 head and no NI cattle went for direct slaughter in Britain.

The trade there has continued to drop, with prices for prime U and R grades down another 6p to 8p/kg last week. However, that reduction is less than what was seen in the previous five-week period and there are reports that the market has further steadied.

Cows

There is also a range of fat cow quotes at the factories, with a best of 540p for an O+ cow

Last week, the average price paid for an R3 cow was down 5.4p to 551.9p/kg. R4 grades averaged 553.2p/kg.

NI lamb: trade on the rise

Spring lambs in the marts are stronger this week, with prices bid up by 25p/kg.

The plants are at a best of 710p, making a lamb worth £149.10 at 21kg deadweight.

In Gortin, trade was strong with a top price per head of £168 for 30kg, (560p/kg) and £160 for 25.5kg (627p/kg).

In Kilrea, the trade for 800 head was sharper, making from 688p to 732p/kg, up by 25p on last week. The 732p was for 19kg at £139, with 721p for 21kg at £151.50.

Markethill has 770 lambs, which made from 650p to 710p/kg, up by 10p to 20p/kg. Heavier lambs sold to 667p/kg for 24kg at £160, with 645p for 24.5kg at £158.

In Saintfield, a big show of 1,110 lambs made from 658p to 722p/kg, up by 8p. Texels at 28kg made £173 and £170.50.

Cross-channel buyers were again around the ring in Ballymena. 736p was paid for 22kg at £162 and 733p for 21kg at £154. Lambs at 25.5kg made 725p, £185, with 28kg making 707p, £198.

Fat ewes

In Gortin, the top ewe made £222 with others from £150 to £208/head.

In Kilrea the top was £218.

In Markethill, a big show of 430 ewes sold to a top of £236. The main demand for good ewes was from £170 to £230.