Cattle
Another 10p/kg has come out of the beef trade this week, with further downward pressure expected next week as processors continue to battle extremely challenging retail conditions. What initially looked like a correction has now developed into a full-scale bear market, with confidence understandably dented across the finishing sector. With some finishers claiming losses of around £400/head, stability in the market is urgently needed.
Prime cattle in the last week generally traded around 600–605p/kg, with native-bred cattle still attracting premiums. While a handful of producers have opted to hold cattle and turn them back to grass, the majority continue to market stock strongly in an attempt to stay ahead of the falling trade.
According to AHDB, overall consumer spending on beef has increased, but retail beef volumes during April were back 6% year-on-year. Consumers are still spending money but increasingly on cheaper proteins like pork and chicken. The market now urgently needs either a significant tightening in finished cattle supplies or a material uplift in consumption to stabilise prices.
Cull cows have eased by around 10p/kg in line with the clean cattle trade, although comparatively the cow market remains relatively buoyant. Cow prices this week last year were only around 50–60p/kg stronger, whereas prime cattle are now back well over 100p/kg from their spring 2025 peak.
Store cattle have inevitably softened alongside the prime trade, with the strongest demand now centred around younger grazing cattle and calves. We currently have great batches of cattle available on farm, along with excellent consignments of bulling heifers from respected breeding herds, including Johne’s 1* status cattle for those looking for quality replacements.
Sheep
The sheep trade remains exceptionally strong, with excellent batches of spring lambs now starting to come forward to meet very buoyant demand. Spring lambs in the last week have generally traded around 880-890p/kg, approximately 160p/kg ahead of the same week last year.
Several abattoirs are now actively switching onto spring lamb processing, with more lambs urgently required to service demand. The trade feels as though it still has momentum, and the prospect of a £9/kg spring lamb market no longer looks unrealistic.
With Eid al-Adha falling on 27th May, just under three weeks away, the current feeling within the trade is that producers should seriously consider taking advantage of these historically high prices while demand remains extremely strong ahead of the festival period.
Hoggs have also continued to attract firmer demand this week,generally trading between 830–860p/kg depending on specification, quality andlocation.
More hoggs and spring lambs are required each week tomaintain throughput levels and satisfy ongoing demand. In these volatile times,remember we pay in 7 day!
Producers wishing to discuss the range of marketing opportunities available are encouraged to get in touch.
Organics
Demand for organic hoggs remains steady, although quality isnaturally becoming more mixed at this stage of the season. Organic premiums aretypically running around 20–30p/kg above conventional base prices.
Organic cattle prices have eased by around 20p/kg over the past fortnight to approximately 750p/kg, with supply and demand currently balanced. Despite the recent correction, organic cattle continue to command premiums of around 150p/kg above conventional cattle. Producers looking to secure organic store cattle are encouraged to get in touch with your local fieldsman or the office.
Memberslivestock Wanted
Store cattle- Scottish and English cattle 300kg approx ALL
Up to 50 Weaned beef x dairy calves off the milk Mandy & Helen
50 Mule hoggs with lambs at foot Helen
50 Mule Ewe lambs (accredited clear of Enzotic abortion) Office
Members livestock Available
Gimmers with good blue texel lambs at foot. Mandy
Excellent organic Angus store cattle Nikki
50 x 500kg Angus/Stabiliser stores Mandy
Grazing cattle available ALL
Simmental breeding Bulls, 18m Lucy
Angus bulls David
Bulling heifers- Johnes 1* Jonny
Store cattle 280kg hill calves David
100 Angus x dairy steers. TB1 Nikki
Shetland x Ewes with good lambs at foot Polly
Contacts
Jonny Williams ActingManaging Director 07817 702 988
Alex Norval Acting ProcurementManager 07787 826 355
Nikki Gilbertson SeniorLivestock Procurement Officer- Northumberland 07595313 040
Lucy Bell LivestockProcurement Officer -Borders 07879602 962
Mandy Grierson Livestock Procurement Officer– Peebles & Lanarkshire 07831741 994
PollyCregan LivestockProcurement -Borders 07398 123 010
David Marshall Fieldsman for Farm Stock 07808 329 719
Colin Mair Fieldsman forAyrshire Country Lamb 07976 605130
Ian Douglas Fieldsman for LothianLamb 07885367 151
HelenMarsden Fieldsman forDumfries and Galloway 07778 799261
Matthew Nicolson Fieldsmanfor Shetland 07795 144 404
Farm Stock Scotland Office 01750723 366
