Lamb prices track higher than pork and beef

LAMB prices are tracking about 40 per cent higher than this time last year, while pig prices have plummeted.

Rabobank senior animal proteins analyst Angus Gidley-Baird said lamb had been the standout meat when tracked against pork and beef.

He said the Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator was tracking at 660c/kg for mid-December 2017 in comparison to 498c/kg for mid-December 2016.

The price rise was due to a combination of fewer lambs available and demand from China increasing this year.

Mr Gidley-Baird said restockers and light trade lambs were performing best, reflecting improved seasonal conditions where processors were competing with farmers over limited supplies.

“With wet conditions in 2016 people, held on to stock and those are coming on line now for production,” he said.