Strong market sales for new-season lamb – QMS

Sales of this year’s lambs have got off to a good start, with prices at Scottish auction markets up 10% on the year to average 350p/kg liveweight.

New-season lamb trade has been firm as lambs have been slow to reach markets and abattoirs, according to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

Supply has been tight overall, with fewer hoggs on the market driving their values up marginally in Scotland.

See also: Lambs edge towards £150 as demand holds and supply tightens

QMS market intelligence manager Iain Macdonald said: “A strong uplift through March and the first half of April took market prices back towards the highs of spring 2021, supported by seasonal demand from Ramadan and Easter.”

Mr Macdonald said prices paid for GB lamb carcasses at Rungis International Market in Paris have held firm, suggesting that export demand remains robust.

“Eid al-Adha celebrations are set to begin on 28 June this year. Given that June is when seasonal supplies are at their lowest level of the year, the slow arrival of lambs this season could result in a very tight market in mid- to late June,” he added.

GB picture

Throughputs were down across Great Britain by 25% in the four weeks to 10 May compared with the same period last year.

GB new-season lambs averaged 741.4p/kg deadweight for the week ending 20 May, up almost 130p/kg deadweight on the same week last year.

New-season lambs at GB auction markets were up 36% on the year to average 351.7p/kg liveweight for the week ending 23 May.