Good outlook for hill lamb trade

NORTH COUNTRY hill farmers have seen good demand for lightweight lambs this summer – but not all have been heading for the export market.

Although Portugal and Italy have been mopping up big numbers – many bought deadweight – demand from the ethnic home market is keeping a firm base in the trade.

The first horned hill lambs hit the market in mid-June and sale rings have remained busy ever since.

Export buyers have been kept on their toes as farmers awash with grass have competed for lightweight lambs for further finishing.

Deadweight lambs must be 8-13kg to meet the lightweight specification and classify about P+. Early season prices reached 260p/kg but prices are now about 220p/kg.

Swaledale wether lambs are making 100p-105p/kg liveweight but plainer sorts not likely to kill out at 45% are being discounted.

Most Texel x Swaledale lambs targeted at the export buyers are finding new homes as stores, with 30kg lambs making £35-£38.

Harrison and Hetherington auctioneer Stuart Bell, who sells lightweight lambs at Kirkby Stephen and Middleton-in-Teesdale, expects demand to remain good well into the autumn.

“Demand from the ethnic population should continue to underpin the trade.”