Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

Deadweight prices for week ending 8 November covering GB. Liveweight prices for week ending 9 November covering England and Wales.

Key points

• Cattle prices continue to grow across all categories as good demand ahead of the Christmas period lends support to the market.
• The deadweight NSL SQQ grew by 12p/kg in the latest week as seasonal demand combined with tighter supplies supports the price.

Cattle

Cattle prices moved upwards across all headline categories in the week ending 8 November, with the all-prime average measure rising by 3p on the week to sit at 657p/kg. The overall average steer and heifer price grew by 3p and 4p to sit at 659p/kg and 657p/kg, respectively. Growth in the overall average young bull price was more muted, up 2p on the week to 646p/kg.

Estimated prime slaughter fell back slightly, down 300 head on the week to total 32,200 head in the week ending 8 November. The number of steers and heifers killed saw slight increases during the week, counteracted by a fall in young bull kill. 

Turning to cows, the overall average measure grew by 3p week-on-week to sit at 526p/kg. Throughput grew as expected with seasonal trends. Estimated slaughter increased by 800 head on the week, totalling 12,600 head in the week ending 8 November.

Cattle prices remain strong, underpinned by seasonal demand to fill Christmas procurement. Reports indicate that wholesale beef prices have lifted in recent weeks, particularly for roasting cuts such as topside and silverside.

Sheep

The deadweight NSL SQQ sat at 675p/kg in the week ending 8 November, up by 12p/kg on the week. This follows a seasonal trend of price growth in anticipation of the festive period, the second most important calendar event for lamb.

This price growth was mirrored in the live markets, with the liveweight SQQ up 7p on the week to 320p/kg. Meanwhile cull ewe prices grew by nearly £6/head to average just over £121/head in the week ending 9 November.

Estimated slaughter of clean sheep grew significantly in the latest week, up 21,000 head to sit at 212,700 head. However, this followed very low kills during the week prior, with numbers in the week ending 8 November slightly above two weeks ago.

Clean sheep kill remains below year-ago levels, with estimated slaughter down by 9% on the same week last year, lending support to the price.

Elsewhere, store lamb numbers appear to be winding back nationally, while average values continue to grow. Stores averaged just over £108/head in the latest week, up £16 year-on-year.

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