Farm Stock (Scotland) Limited Autumn Update
Lamb numbers marketed through the Farm Stock (Scotland)Limited to the end of September grew by 4% year on year across the group. Slaughter weights of lambs marketed through the farmer owned co-operative during September were slightly easier at 19.43kg/head, possibly due to a combination of the tighter grass situation and the very strong sheep prices. Average prices are up 27p/kg compared to September 2024. Alex Norval, who heads up procurement commented, “I am delighted to see strong numbers of lambs flowing through the business, which is a testament to the hard work of all our fieldsman team, with our members benefitting from stronger prices and firm demand from a variety of processors”. Alex added, “with the upcoming festive run in we expect demand to improve and we will hopefully see strong export orders Southern Europe for lightweight hill lambs.”
As is often the case, the strong prime stock prices have come during what has been a relatively tricky marketing season where the extremely dry weather in the South and East of the UK had reduced demand for store lambs during August. With the easing of the drought conditions, demand for store and breeding stock increased significantly as the Autumn has progressed which is extremely pleasing. Nikki Gilbertson, senior procurement officer, “With grass and forage crops now growing well in the south and east of the UK we have seen increased demand for store lambs and store cattle through October which is good news for store producers.” Nikki added, “We have a waiting list of member buyers for good batches of store lambs, organic store lambs and for 350-450kg store cattle.”
