Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 18 June 2026

Deadweight prices cover Great Britain (GB) for the week ending 13 June. Liveweight prices cover England & Wales (E&W) for the week ending 14 June.

• Cattle prices appear to have begun to level out, with the average deadweight prices for both steers and heifers flat on the week at 593p/kg in the week ending 13 June.
• Deadweight sheep prices remain at record highs, with the NSL SQQ hitting 938p/kg in the latest week. Numbers remain constrained as old season supplies come to an end, with supply tightness supporting prices.

GB finished cattle prices look to have flattened in the latest week’s data, with the all prime average measure steady on the week to sit at 592p/kg.

Prices were mixed across categories, with the overall average prices for both steers and heifers flat week-on- week at 593p/kg. The young bull category saw a slight dip, with the average price down 1p on the week to land at 578p/kg.

GB estimated slaughter of prime cattle totalled 31,100 head in the week ending 13 June, back 1,200 head on the week prior.

The average cow price also remained steady on last week, at 483p/kg, closing the price gap to the same week last year to 26p/kg. Cow numbers remain lower, compared to last year, with slaughter in the latest week totalling 7,700 head. In the year to date, cow kill remains back 2% versus 2025.

In the sheep trade, prices remain exceptionally strong. The deadweight NSL SQQ grew by 2p on the week to 938p/kg in the latest week’s data, now sitting 128p/kg above same week’s previous record high price recorded in 2024.

In the live markets, prices eased across all categories in the latest week, moving more in line with usual seasonal trends. The liveweight NSL SQQ lost 16p on the week to land at 454p/kg, whilst cull ewes lost £11 to average £153/head. © Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

Estimated slaughterings of clean sheep fell significantly on the week, to land at 168,000 head. As we come to the end of old season lamb supplies, numbers of new season animals coming through appear to be limited at this point, underpinning supply tightness and supporting strong prices.

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