Lamb prices increase but remain under pressure
Deadweight lamb prices increased for four consecutive weeks during November and early December.
GB prices rose to average 561.1p/kg deadweight in the week ending 3 December, up by almost 50p/kg on month-earlier levels.
Despite this growth, prices are 57.5p/kg below the same week last year.
Jonny Williams, operations director at livestock marketing group Farmstock, said there is a lot of New Zealand lamb coming in, both to the UK and into Europe, which is making it challenging and taking the edge off the trade.
“UK lamb is competitive, but not currently as price competitive in Europe as New Zealand lamb,” said Mr Williams.
“Lightweight lambs are very tricky as they are generally exported to southern Europe and that trade does seem very difficult. Standard weight lambs are selling OK, but maybe not as high as people had hoped,” he added.
Charlie Reeve / Farmers Weekly
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