Flying sheep-breeding trade on cards if grass comes

A cold, dry spring has subdued talk of a red-hot breeding sheep trade this summer.

National flock size, lamb prices, demand for cull sheep and ewe hogg numbers slaughtered this year have all fuelled expectations of a strong trade later this summer.

However, very limited grass growth across the UK has eroded confidence slightly.

AHDB Grasscheck shows growth on beef and sheep farms in early May was at 25kg DM/ha a day, about half the average for the previous two years.

See also: Strong demand bolsters liveweight lamb prices

Exeter

Strong prices for rams, hoggs and shearlings at Exeter’s recent Dorset May fair bode well for sheep breeders later in the summer.

But Russell Steer of Kivells cautioned that trading buyers looking to put sheep onto spring grass to improve them for later sales don’t have the confidence to keep bidding at second- and third-choice sheep.

“I see the only thing that can dampen the sheep trade is the weather,” Mr Steer said. “In 2018 we saw it, and that will be in people’s minds.”

He said recent rain had freshened things up, but even in early May it was still too cold for significant grass growth.  

“We’ve sold a lot of ewe hoggs through the prime ring for £140-£150 a head,” he said. “People remember 2018 when they sold shearlings for £120, so are understandably taking the money now.

“Even some that wanted to keep hold of hoggs have been forced to sell them as grass has become tight.”

Longtown

Nick Woodmass of C&D Auction Marts said Longtown’s strong cull ewe, ewe and lamb prices should underpin a buoyant autumn sheep trade.

Longtown had also sold a lot of ewe hoggs, with some breeders carrying about half of the hoggs they might normally.

Big (50-55kg) Scotch Mule hoggs had made £168 and £155 recently in the prime ring.

Similarly, ewes and lambs were up £10 a life on the year. Full-mouth Texel-cross and Mule ewes had averaged £82-£90 and £68-£75 a life, respectively.

“If the weather warms up and there is more grass about, I think they could lift another £5-£10 a life,” said Mr Woodmass.

“One thing that makes me wary is that many breeders sold early ahead of Brexit. While this trade was good, it wasn’t as good as in the past few months, which has been enjoyed by the big lamb finishers, so there might not be quite as much cash in the pot as we think.”