Beef and lamb prices remain strong
Lamb and hogget prices continue to buck the seasonal trend, with both live and deadweight values rising over the past week.
In the week to 7 May, the old season liveweight SQQ price increased by 3.63p/kg, to 203.76p/kg. New season SQQ values were up by 1.41p, to 253.93p/kg lw, despite a 23% rise in market throughputs, to 13,111 head. Superlight and lightweight lambs and hoggets showed the strongest price rises, with those over 52kg also in demand.
Cull ewes firmed by £1.83, to average £57.85 a head, while the SQQ for deadweight hoggets increased by 5.7p/kg in the week to 4 May, to average 460.9p/kg.
Prime cattle trade also remained strong, with finished heifer values increasing by 2.1p/kg in the week to 7 May, to average 216.22p. Despite a 0.5p/kg drop in steer and young bull prices, the overall trade was 0.52p firmer, at an average of 209.28p/kg.
“With numbers still tight, processors continue to find it difficult to source adequate supplies of in-spec cattle,” said an EBLEX report. “In addition, increasing demand for native-breed cattle is contributing to the upward pressure on prices. The outlook for May remains robust.”
Ringside at Bakewell Market, Derbyshire
Market report