22 May 2025
Market Snapshot GB Prime Cattle and Lamb Trends
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Weekly Market Wrap: Cattle Prices Soften, Lamb Falls Below Five-Year Average as Supplies Increase
GB Prime Cattle Prices See Second Consecutive Decline; Lamb Continues Downward Trend
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – The latest figures for the week ending May 17 show a continued softening in GB prime cattle prices, while lamb prices have notably dipped below their five-year average for the first time this year. Increased slaughter numbers across both sectors are a key factor in these market shifts.
Cattle Market Highlights:
- Prime Cattle: The GB all-prime average deadweight price for prime cattle dropped by 10p/kg week-on-week, settling at 687p/kg. This marks the second consecutive week of decline. All prime categories experienced a fall, with steers down 10p/kg, heifers 9p/kg lower, and young bulls seeing a steeper reduction of nearly 14p/kg. Despite these recent falls, prices remain at historically high levels, with the all-prime average still over £2/kg higher than this time last year.
- Slaughter Numbers Up: Estimated prime cattle slaughter surged significantly in the week ending May 17, reaching 37,400 head. This represents the highest weekly kill of the year to date and is 10% higher than the same week in 2024, as supply catches up after the recent bank holiday.
- Cow Prices Stable: The GB overall deadweight cow price remained flat on the week at 541p/kg. Estimated cow slaughter increased to 8,000 head. Year-to-date, cow slaughter is 5% below the same period last year, a tightness in supply that has contributed to the recent strength in cow prices, influenced by strong dairy production and a long-term contraction in the suckler breeding herd.
Sheep Market Highlights:
- Lamb Prices Decline: The GB deadweight old season lamb (OSL) price continued its downward trajectory, falling by 9p/kg from the previous week to 665p/kg. This is the first instance in 2025 that the lamb price has dropped below the five-year average for this week, though it remains significantly below year-ago levels.
- Strong Supplies: Estimated lamb kill figures remained robust, totaling 214,300 head in the latest week. While only a slight week-on-week increase, this is 14% higher than the same week last year, bringing the year-to-date total almost 6% higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
- Trade Data: Q1 2025 trade data (January-March) shows a 1% year-on-year increase in exports of fresh and frozen sheep meat, reaching 20,700 tonnes. This indicates sustained demand from continental Europe, the primary market. Price indicators at France’s Rungis market have remained relatively steady. Simultaneously, sheep meat imports have risen by 5% year-on-year for Q1, largely driven by increased volumes from Australia and New Zealand, alongside smaller increases from suppliers like Ireland and Iceland.
Original Source: AHDB
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