Friday 5th December 2025
Christmas Prime Stock Competition sponsored by Tarff Valley… Thank you for all your entries.
Cattle
Nothing seemingly brings out a flush of cattle like a fall in the price… Prices have eased slightly on the week with most cattle 650-660p and there appears to be a small surplus of cattle for the order requirements. Some abattoirs are now operating a short waiting list.
Plainer dairy cows have become a little sticky with large numbers of boning types finally coming forward ahead of Christmas. Plainer cows are needed for next week. Well-fleshed beef cows remain an excellent trade for the time of year and are easily marketed to multiple processors.
Store cattle continue at very strong prices, though we expect volumes to ease slightly as we approach Christmas. We have buyers looking for forward stores 450kg plus for finishing in the new year.
Sheep
As we started December, prime lambs in the last week have been a very strong price with lambs trading between 680-705p. As the week has come on many processors are complaining about retail/exports suddenly drying up and a flood of lambs (particularly heavies) coming forward. There are also reports of a large amount of NZ lamb which is disappointing. We are seeing a lot of very good lambs coming forward at the moment, and there is no shortage of meat which is great to see.
Light lambs for export have remained very keenly competed for in the last week as is normal for this time of year with flat rate prices in the region of 700-720p.
Hopefully with the trade having caught a shiver this week, we will see orders and volumes re-balance in the next week and we can clear a sudden backlog. (which can often happen this close to Christmas).
Organics
Organic cattle remain a very good trade with a premium in the region of100p/kg. More cattle wanted on an ongoing basis to meet increased demand. Organic lambs are attracting a good premium of approximately 20p/kg with supply and demand balanced.
Wanted
Proven Angus, Luing or Sim Bull, Johnes 1, BVD clear etc HM
Angus & Blue x dairy calves on and off the milk HM,JW, NG
Charolais & Angus suckled calves All
Organic store lambs-not horned AN, LB
Scottish Angus Store cattle 350-450kg AN,DM, JW, NG
Available
42 Angus & Luing calves, 250kg available. AN
125Romney ewe lambs HM
16 Autumn calving cows with calves at foot JW HM
150 In-calf English Angus suckler cows- Genuine Dispersal NG
Highland and highland x Shorthorn stores AN
Contacts
Jonny Williams Acting Managing Director 07817702 988
Alex Norval Acting Procurement Manager 07787826 355
Nikki Gilbertson Senior Livestock Procurement Officer- Northumberland 07595313 040
Lucy Bell Livestock Procurement Officer -Borders 07879602 962
Mandy Grierson Livestock Procurement Officer – Peebles & Lanarkshire 07831741 994
David Marshall Fieldsman for Farm Stock 07808 329 719
Colin Mair Fieldsman for Ayrshire Country Lamb 07976 605 130
Ian Douglas Fieldsman for Lothian Lamb 07885367 151
Helen Marsden Fieldsman for Dumfries and Galloway 07778 799 261
Matthew Nicolson Fieldsman for Shetland 07795 144 404
Farm Stock Scotland Office 01750 723366
