Strong sales predicted for gimmer lambs

Breeding sheep sales have continued returning strong prices, with many auctioneers predicting the market is poised to produce some flying gimmer lamb trades this month.

Prime lambs have made £10-£25 a head more on the year for much of the summer, which has lifted shearling trade and has had a knock-on impact on early breeding lamb sales.  

Castle Douglas saw 7,140 Scotch Mule lambs level at £121 (+£28 on the year) last week (31 August), and Hexham’s sale of Mule lambs was up £27 on the year on Friday (4 September).

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Welshpool

Breeding sheep averages have been up £25 on the year at Welshpool, said Tom Davies, breeding sheep auctioneer.

Numbers were about 10% higher until the start of September, with 1,200-1,500 more sheep sold than at the same point in 2019.

He said Welsh Mule lambs looked in very good condition after a good summer, and depending on shearling averages lifting to around the £150 mark, could be £10 a head dearer.

“We have early and late lambers in our area and people wanting sheep from August to late October,” said Mr Davies. “As long as lamb trade holds up, I think breeding sheep trade will hold up.”

Stirling UA

Breeding sheep trade is buoyant at Stirling United Auctions, where prime lamb and store prices have been consistently high all summer.

Scotch Mule lambs topped at £200 a head for a pen of 30 and averaged £111.98 (+£25 up on the year) and Blackface lambs averaged £84.88 (+£15.62 up on the year) last week (5 September).

George Purves, managing director at United Auctions, said the breeding sheep outlook looked firm, given the prime lamb market.                                                    

Mr Purves added: “Many people have holidayed at home this summer. This has helped domestic demand and lamb exports are very strong because people in France, Germany and Belgium have done the same.”

He added the early spring and high prices had already taken lots of lambs out of the system, and there were no signs of buyer hesitancy regarding Brexit.

The market had sold more lambs in August than ever before and even small, long-keep store lambs were being traded on the strength of current prime lamb prices, he said.

Last week’s (3 September) prices were £25 a head dearer on the year for a 40kg lamb. Lambs averaged 213p/kg compared to 155p/kg a year ago.