Sheep market slides further down

By FWi staff

THE sheep market continued to slide this week, with average deadweight prices for new-season lambs about the 210p/kg figure.

This means its been another bad week for lamb trade, which has all the hallmarks of remaining a bear market for sometime.

In the last fortnight, prices for new-season lambs have dropped consecutively by 10p/kg or more week on week, and pundits forecast further misery.

But Peter Crichton of Hill Farm Sheep says that demand this week seems firmer than last.

“It may be because of the weather and more people have been having barbecues.”

Some areas in particular have noticed a shortfall in lambs, and this has prompted some slightly better local prices.

Abattoirs in Yorkshire have been short because of tightening supplies, with many stock now tied up in foot-and-mouth infected areas.

Any better prices on offer though are probably offset by higher transport costs, says Mr Crichton.

Meanwhile, old-season lambs are almost impossible to sell.

Quotes of 150p/kg dw were the top end of processors price range last week and this probably marks the end of their season.

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