Trading Update 24th April 2026
Cattle
Prime cattle prices have continued to ease over the past week, with many processors reducing slaughter capacity in response to very poor retail sales. We need a swift end to the Iran/USA stand off. This cut in slaughter numbers is leaving processors “artificially full” and putting further pressure on the trade. Cattle have generally traded between 620–630p/kg, back around 10p/kg on the week, with someEnglish firms reportedly quoting as low as 610p/kg for next week. With aprice slide set in, some finishers are dumping cattle which isn’t helping.
AHDB data for the first quarter of 2026 showsprime cattle slaughter at 499,000 head, down 0.9% on the sameperiod in 2025. However, average carcase weights increased by 3% year-on-year to 353.6kg. This extra weight, likely helped by cheaper cereal prices, (plus a flood of imports) has more than offset the fall in cattle numbers and helps explain the disappointing demand for beef this spring.
Cull cow values have eased in line with the prime beef trade, but demand remains strong and more cows are wanted everyweek. If you have any passengers following calving, please get in touch andtake advantage of the still-strong prices. Steady numbers of OTM bulls are also now coming forward, with many farmers carrying out checks ahead of bull sales.
Store cattle, particularly forward beasts, have eased over the past week. Good cattle remain available, including both grazing and forward types. Get in touch if you are looking for any stores or bulling heifers.
Sheep
The first batch of spring lambs has moved- andwhat a start!!! Base prices have opened extremely positively at 880p/kg,with lambs topping at £196.20/head.
With hogget supplies tightening, the outlook for main-crop spring lambs looks positive. The continuing dry weather has also prompted many March lambers to start asking about creep feeding. The hogg trade continues to roll on, with base prices between 825–860p/kg over the past week. The higher end of the trade is being paid for premium, well-fed hoggs,particularly those suited for export. By comparison, this week last year hoggs were trading at 685–700p/kg.
More hoggs and spring lambs are wanted everyweek to meet good demand.
Organics
Demand for organic hoggs remains reasonable,with enough sheep available to satisfy processor requirements. Organic finishers are delighted with returns on long-keep lambs bought last autumn. The organic beef trade remains excellent when compared with the conventional market, with premiums in excess of 130p/kg reported in the past week.
Organic store cattle are also available, with strongest demand currently coming from English and Welsh organic finishers. Getin touch if you are looking for any
Store cattle- Scottish and English cattle 300kg approx ALL
Up to 50 Weaned beef x dairy calves off the milk Mandy & Helen
200 organic store hoggs Alex
50 Mule hoggs with lambs at foot Helen
25 Cheviot ewe lambs Polly
50 TB1 store cattle- 350kg approx Nicky
Members livestock Available
Mule ewe lambs with lambs at foot. Lucy
Heifers with Angus calves available end of May Office/ID
Organic bulling heifers- Johnes 1* Mandy /Jonny
Store cattle 280kg hill calves David
30 x Angus stores 420kg English Jonny
30 x 480kg stores. Jonny
Contacts
Jonny Williams Acting Managing Director 07817 702 988
Alex Norval Acting Procurement Manager 07787 826 355
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
PollyCregan LivestockProcurement -Borders 07398 123 010
David Marshall Fieldsman for Farm Stock 07808 329 719
Colin Mair Fieldsman for Ayrshire Country Lamb 07976 605130
Ian Douglas Fieldsman for Lothian Lamb 07885367 151
HelenMarsden Fieldsman for Dumfries and Galloway 07778 799261
Matthew Nicolson Fieldsman for Shetland 07795 144 404
Farm Stock Scotland Office 01750723 366
