Search our website enhanced by Google.
Mixed performance for lamb prices
Thursday, 1 July 2021
By Rebecca Wright
The most recent week has been mixed for liveweight lamb prices. During the week ending 30 June the GB liveweight NSL SQQ slipped 7.19p on-the-week, to 248.62p/kg. The daily averages showed a clear divide with prices at the beginning of the week declining sharply, and prices later in the week rising. There was a noticeable drop in the number of lambs coming forwards. In total just over 80,000 head came forwards, down 18% week-on-week.
In the week ended 26 June the GB deadweight NSL SQQ dropped 47.3p, to 587.2p/kg. Prices are still at a premium to last year although this has narrowed to 116p/kg. The British farmgate lamb price is currently trading at a premium to the French farmgate price which is very likely to be limiting export volumes, as it did in April.
However, prices are receiving support from the upcoming Islamic festival of Eid-Al Adha which this year begins around 19 July. There are two elements to the increase in demand during Eid-Al Adha. There are the wider celebrations and large gatherings which take place as well as the Qurbani, which may again be possible if social distancing restrictions are lifted in time. There are no special requirements for meat eaten during the wider celebrations. As part of the festival, Muslims follow in the footsteps of the Prophet Abraham by having an animal slaughtered as an offering. In this case, to meet the requirements of Qurbani, the sacrificed lamb must be at least six months old and be fit, healthy and lean. Processor demand for Qurbani and meat for the wider celebrations typically begins around two to three weeks before the festival itself.
Sign up for regular updates
You can subscribe to receive Beef and Lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.
While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.
All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.