Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 30 January 2026

Deadweight prices cover GB for the week ending 24 January. Liveweight prices cover England and Wales for the week ending 25 January.

Key points

• GB prime cattle prices experienced downward pressure in the week ending 24 January, although remain 52p above year ago levels
• Meanwhile, growth was seen in cow prices as demand for manufacturing beef strengthens against higher-value prime cuts
• Sheep prices fell away strongly in the latest week as reports suggest demand from both the domestic market and export is subdued

Cattle

GB deadweight prime cattle prices generally experienced downward pressure in the week ending 24 January. Overall, steers lost 0.4p to average 642.8p/kg, heifers lost 3.2p to average 639.1p/kg, while young bulls lost 1.2p to average 622.0p/kg overall. Nevertheless, these average prices were around 52p higher year-on-year.

Meanwhile, deadweight cow prices moved upwards across all regions, with the overall GB price averaging 507.9p/kg. This narrowed the gap between average prime cattle and cow prices back to 5-year average levels, a trend we typically see at this point in the year as demand for manufacturing beef strengthens against higher-value prime cuts.

How the market reacts in the run-up to Valentine’s Day will be a key watchpoint; particularly around levels of imported beef heading into foodservice channels. Reports suggest this may pressure the market somewhat.

Evolution of weekly GB deadweight overall average steer and cow prices 2024-2026

Source: AHDB

Estimated GB prime cattle slaughter rose by nearly 2,000 head to total 33,900 for the week. This was up by 1,700 head on the same week a year ago. The uplift in numbers was mostly driven by steers.

Cow slaughter meanwhile stood at an estimated 11,200 head, up 600 head on the week and 400 on the year. Material uplift in cow slaughter remains to be seen following downwards movements in dairy markets, although this remains a watchpoint.

Sheep

Old season lamb (OSL) prices meanwhile lost ground in the latest reporting week. The GB deadweight OSL price lost 25p to average 688p/kg, back 43p on the year as supply exceeded demand. Reports suggest demand from both the domestic market and export is subdued currently.

Estimated slaughter eased following a strong week, standing at 196,000 head for the week ending 24 January. This was back 21,000 head from the week before and down 4,000 head on the year.

In the live ring, the England & Wales OSL SQQ lost 5p for the week ending 25 January, following a 16p loss the week before. Auction throughputs of OSLs fell to 42,000 head, back 18% on the week and 19% on the year. Meanwhile, cull ewe prices lost ground but remained up on 2025 levels as numbers remained lower year on year, averaging £128.60 for the week.

Market reports more widely suggest the wet weather is causing disruption to marketing patterns.

© Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2025. All rights reserved.

A look at imports

Reports suggest that greater imports of beef and sheep meat are weighing on the market. While HMRC data lags reality by two months, we can glean slightly more from supplier export data, which is often more up to date. The latest export data available is currently for November. It takes about 5-6 weeks for the bulk of product from Oceania to land in the UK, meaning that shipments leaving New Zealand and Australia in November would have landed in the UK between mid-December and mid-January.

For sheep meat, New Zealand exports to the UK have been lower year-on-year for most of 2025. Volumes began to grow seasonally in November but were still back 32% on the year. Australian shipments by contrast have grown substantially and were up 65% year-on-year in November. Australian product is likely taking market share from New Zealand in the wake of improved trade access, strong production and aims to diversify away from the Chinese market.

Combined exports of fresh/frozen sheep meat from Australia and New Zealand to UK

Source: TDM

For beef, exports from Australia and New Zealand have been up significantly for most of 2025, and monthly volumes have been largely growing from both countries. In November, combined beef exports from Australia and New Zealand were over three times the amount shipped in November 2024 at 3,800T (for context, Ireland exported 13,800T in November).

Most of this product is heading into the foodservice market as the sector looks to recoup some margin. However more product has been seen at retail. Strength in the UK market, a limited domestic supply outlook and anticipation of steadying demand may continue to pull imports.

Combined exports of fresh/frozen beef from Australia and New Zealand to UK

Source: TDM

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