Buoyant prime trade lifts store lambs

Store lamb buyers have shown early confidence by giving more for lambs as July prime prices track at £11-£13 a head up on the year.

National price indicators from AHDB for the week ending 27 June showed store lambs averaged £65.32, about £8 a head dearer than the same week in 2019.

Auctioneers say confidence has strengthened on the back of stronger prime sheep trade, which is tracking above last year’s levels in spite of improved supplies.

See also: Mixed fortunes for lamb prices in coronavirus lockdown

Average prime lamb SQQs were up 27.8p/kg and 32.32p/kg on the year for the past two weeks at 230.59pkg and 225.1p/kg, AHDB SQQ data shows.

The Muslim festivals of Eid-al-adha and Qurbani (30 July-3 August) are tipped to keep demand firm.

Hereford

Smaller entries of store lambs have lifted prices at Hereford, where trade for genuine store lambs is £6-£8 a head up on the year, said auctioneer Greg Christopher.

He added the dry spring led to small, earlier offerings of store lambs than normal, but that grass growth had since fully recovered to tighten numbers and lift values.  

“It all follows the prime lamb price,” said Mr Christopher. “I get the feeling prime lambs will hold for two to three weeks as numbers seem to have tightened here.”

An entry of 350 stores averaged £69.60 a head on Tuesday (7 July). Large bunches made £72-£79, good farming lambs hit £65-£71, longer-keep lambs made £54-£60 and plainer ones made £40-odd.

Last year’s first two July sales saw 615 average £59.20 and 920 average £57.70.

Sedgemoor

At Sedgemoor, auctioneer Richard Webber of Greenslade Taylor Hunt has seen midsummer rain stoke demand for store lambs.

He said national store lamb prices were £8 dearer on the year and reflected growing confidence in the lamb market.

Sedgemoor’s last three sales have seen 234, 530 and 928 average £61, £67.91 and £70, respectively. The corresponding weeks in 2019 had 308, 787 and 810 level at £65, £52 and £54.

Mr Webber said the best Texel, Charollais and Suffolk cross stores hit £65 and smaller, longer-keep lambs made £50 or more.

Some lambs in the store entry were being bought as prime, but the genuine stores lambs for growing and finishing were dearer on the year.

Mr Webber said: “The smaller ones look the dearer lambs. There are quite a few buyers looking for longer-term lambs. Store buying season has yet to get going, we start seeing numbers build now.”