Typical Spring weather, very mixed! However, a relatively dry week with wintery showers in places has allowed ground work to proceed. We are beginning to see more fields of ewes with young lambs as we travel around the countryside.
Cattle
Prime cattle prices have stabilised. This week saw price should at 625 to 635ppk with AA and AAX commanding a 10 to 20 ppk premium over base. However, there are deals to be had for larger lots of in-spec cattle at some processors.
Cow prices are cruising along in the 560ppk for dairy cows and up to 575ppk for good beef cows, providing a nice return on the old girls at the end of their life. With prime beef cut sales very slow cow trade is likely to remain strong as more processing beef is required to fill the more affordable end of the market. As always, the available cull cow numbers will tighten as we head into the summer which my well strengthen cow prices.
Store cattle are still an absolute flier, everything from calves to heavier grazing cattle are in huge demand. Cattle are not hanging around for long –with swift pickup and swift sales being the order of the day!
Cattle of all shapes and sizes are keenly competed for, especially smaller grazing cattle and rougher done cattle. If you are looking for some or thinking of selling some, please get in touch.
Sheep:
Hogg trade is skyrocketing with many processors increasing prices week on week. This week has seen prices from 800 to 860ppk depending on location and spec. Although the market is following a very similar trend as2025 the ppk is up on last year. This is reflective on supply which is back due to lower numbers, ongoing lambing and calving and field work now well under way. We are now nearing the end of the various events in February and March which may see the hogg price falling – if you have hoggs it may be a good time to market them!
We currently have good demand for ewes, with a number of different outlets handling them we hope to increase ewe numbers going forward, so please speak to your fields person if this is something you would be interested.
We are a bit early yet, but we are expecting there to be good demand for ewes with lambs at foot going forward, with many people looking to up their numbers after lambing time. We’ve also got people looking to buy later lambing ewes –end of April beginning of May.
Organics
Hoggs
Good standard weight organic hoggs are sitting at a base of 840 to 880ppk, depending on location and spec. Demand remains firm for organic hoggs.
Cattle
Organic cattle have come back a bit in price but are still achieving 735 to 765ppkpremium. Please contact your fieldsperson to discuss the options available.
