Spring lambs see resurgence as values lift back above £7/kg

The lamb trade seems to have had a resurgence in the past month after a fairly subdued spring.

Tight supplies have supported lamb prices in June, with fewer hoggets left and spring lambs yet to come forward in large quantities.

New-season lambs averaged 724p/kg deadweight for the week ending 14 June, closing the gap slightly on last year’s levels.

See also: All-England bluetongue zone to be introduced from 1 July

Throughputs at abattoirs are lower compared with this time last year, with the drier weather slowing grass growth and limiting finished lamb numbers.

Stuart Vile, ruminant manager at livestock marketing group Meadow Quality, said base prices being quoted by some abattoirs were up by 20p/kg this week, however there was a considerable range in prices between different processors.

Total sheepmeat exports were up by 11% in volume and 13.5% in value during the first four months of 2025.

HMRC figures show export volumes totalled 30,800t between January and April, with 94% of this destined for the EU market.

Meanwhile, sheepmeat imports to the UK totalled 26,500t during the same period, also up 11% on the year.

Australian lamb exports to the UK hit a monthly all-time high in May, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

Tim Jackson, MLA global supply analyst, said: “Lamb exports to the UK reached 2,273t, which is the highest monthly volume on record and marks the first time the UK has been the fourth-largest market.”

Auction markets

New-season lambs averaged 355p/kg liveweight at auction markets in England and Wales for the week ending 14 June.

Exeter Livestock Centre saw an entry of more than 2,600 spring lambs, with mid-weight lambs averaging about 353p/kg.

Heavier lambs were also in demand, with 46-52kg lambs averaging £170/head and 28 lots going for more than £180/head.

Russell Steer, auctioneer at Exeter, said: “Who could believe or predict the upturn in spring lamb prices from where we were a month ago to today.

“Heavies very much wanted to fill the void of the heavy hoggs which have all but vanished over the last fortnight.”

Spring lambs also sold to flying trade at Bakewell market on 16 June, with 645 new season lambs achieving an overall average of 398p/kg, putting a typical lamb at £174/head.

Auctioneer Peter Oven said demand was as good as ever for quality butchers lambs.

Bluetongue

A bluetongue restricted zone is due to be placed across the whole of England from 1 July, however the rules in Wales are set to differ.

Several auctioneers have raised concerns that these restrictions could be very detrimental to trade, especially for breeding sales later in the summer.