Tight supplies fuel sheep and beef prices rise
Tight supplies continue to fuel finished cattle price increases with all prime cattle averaging 210p/kg liveweight in the week to Wednesday (6 March). This was a 6p/kg increase on the previous week.
Young bulls averaged more than 200p/kg liveweight for the first time and the cull cow trade also benefited from the strong prime markets, with Grade 1 well-fleshed cows averaging just under 163p/kg in the week to 5 March.
At Bakewell market, Derbyshire, trade was significantly up in virtually all departments with over 30-month and finished cattle returning record results and store cattle continuing to confound any attempts at valuation, said auctioneer Bagshaws.
“In the sheep department [there were] bigger numbers and for the hoggs significantly bigger prices with the top call 225p/kg and the SQQ [standard quality quotient] average very respectable at almost 180p,” said this week’s market report.
Heifers bought for suckler replacements were the hottest trade of the day.
Deadweight prices rose by 3p/kg to a new high of 371.2p/kg in the week to 2 March. Steers and heifers drove the rise, while the young bull trade dropped back slightly after strong performance the week before, said EBLEX.
The liveweight lamb trade also rose again this week, with the SQQ for the week ended 6 March up 13p on the week. Lamb prices in Great Britain have risen by about 40p/kg since the mid-January low but remain about 20p/kg below year ago prices.
Weaker sterling is helping export trade and demand is strong, said EBLEX in its weekly report. Trade continued firming despite a 7% rise in throughput week on week.
Livestock output 2013