Liveweight lamb prices on the rise
Both old season and new season liveweight lamb prices have increased during the past week. In the week ending 5 May, the GB Liveweight OSL SQQ prices increased 6.6p on the week to average 296.41p/kg. Prices are up 89p when compared to the same week in 2020.
Liveweight NSL SQQ prices averaged 358.72p/kg for the week ending 5 May, an increase of 11.1p on the previous week and 101p on the same week last year.
Throughputs at British auction markets for the week totalled 100,300 head, up 10,800 head (12%) on the previous week. New season lambs are coming forward earlier this year than last year and accounted for 30% of total auction market throughputs in the last week. This is likely to be due to the high prices encouraging lambs to finished earlier on farm; processors keen to source them, with lower numbers of old season lambs apparently available.
Deadweight lamb prices dropped back during the last week. For the week ending 1 May, GB deadweight OSL SQQ averaged 644.3p/kg, down 29.9p on the previous week. Prices are currently up by 171p on the same week of the previous year and 181p higher than the five-year-average. The GB deadweight NSL SQQ averaged 685.8p/kg, down 0.8p on the previous week.
Total throughputs for the week ending 1 May are estimated at 129,200 head, down 39% the same week a year ago. This is partly due to the Bank holiday reducing killing days for some abattoirs.
Cull ewes averaged £104.79/head liveweight, in the week ending 5 May, an increase £6.75 on the previous week. Cull ewe throughput in auction markets was 36,500 head for the week.
By Charlie Reeve / AHDB
Read full article Share on twitter