Lamb prices rise, following seasonal pattern

Lamb prices recovered by 5p/kg for the week to 16 February, as supply fell.

Old season SQQ throughputs in Great Britain fell by 3.86% on the previous week’s average to 93,416 head.

Prices averaged 162.08p/kg for the week ending 16 February.

“Prices have been rising steadily since early January,” said EBLEX analyst Paul Heyhoe.

“Supplies were tight because of the bad weather. Only now are we seeing some big numbers of throughputs.”

The market saw some improved demand and the weaker sterling had also contributed somewhat to increased prices.

However, it was difficult to say whether the horseburger scandal had made any impact on lamb, he said.

“I wouldn’t expect any reduced confidence in beef to affect the lamb market mostly due to value – lamb is comparatively high value while the beef involved was low end,” said Mr Heyhoe.

The market appeared to be following the seasonal pattern, but the bad season last year could cause an oversupply, he said.

Prices would pick up towards Easter, he said, if normal patterns dominate.

A small number of new season lambs began to emerge on the market and fetched an extra 5p/kg on average in the week to 16 February.

Market report