UK Cattle and Sheep Prices Show Signs of Stability
UK Cattle Prices Stall, Cow Values Climb Amidst Stable Sheep Market
The latest market analysis from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) indicates a pause in the upward momentum of Great Britain’s deadweight cattle prices in the week ending May 3rd. While overall average prices for steers, heifers, and young bulls saw a marginal increase of less than a penny, the all-prime average rose by 0.8p/kg to reach 702p/kg. Following the disruption of two bank holiday weeks, estimated prime cattle slaughter rebounded significantly to 36,800 head, marking the highest throughput recorded so far this year.
Conversely, cow prices continued their upward trajectory. The overall average deadweight cow price increased by a further 6p/kg in the week ending May 3rd, settling at 538p/kg – a substantial £1.77/kg higher than the same period last year. This sustained rise in cow values, juxtaposed with the steadying prime cattle category, has narrowed the price gap between the two since the beginning of April. However, the current difference remains historically wide, highlighting the competitive pricing of cow beef in the market.
Kantar data reveals that actual retail volume sales of beef experienced growth throughout April, likely influenced by the timing of Easter. However, a weaker performance in March resulted in relatively stable year-on-year volumes for the 12 weeks leading up to April 20th (-0.3%). Average beef prices saw a 6% increase compared to the previous year, with notable growth in the value of steak and ready-to-cook categories. For context, the all-prime average deadweight cattle price was up by a significant 35% year-on-year over the same 12-week period.
The sheep market demonstrated greater stability in pricing during the week ending May 3rd, coinciding with an increase in throughput. The GB old season SQQ (Standard Quality Quotation) remained at 686p/kg, down £1.39/kg compared to the same week last year. Deadweight sheep prices have deviated from typical seasonal trends in 2025, reflecting shifts in supply and demand, and values are now much closer to the five-year average. Estimated lamb slaughter saw a significant increase of over 12% from the previous week, reaching 244,300 head. This figure was notably higher than both the same week in 2024 and the five-year average.
From a demand perspective, the timing of Easter significantly boosted retail volume sales of lamb in April (Kantar). However, weaker sales in February and March led to an overall 8% year-on-year decrease in total lamb volumes for the 12 weeks to April 20th. Despite this annual decline, total lamb volume sales are relatively stable compared to the same period in 2023. An analysis by product and cut reveals that losses in processed lamb and added-value products offset gains in other cuts such as steaks and diced lamb.
Original source: AHDB
