The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Caution dominates day at year’s first lamb sale
Ewe prices hold up well but wether prices are down
Britain’s sheep finishers delivered their verdict on last season’s lack of margins by being cautious with their cash at the year’s first major sale of lambs at Lairg.
Around 14,000 newly weaned ewe and wether lambs passed through the wooden ring on the Sutherland hillside, in front of regular and new buyers from Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, the Borders, Cumbria and as far south as Wales and Sussex.
Ewe lamb prices held up well with 3,796 averaging £76.52, a rise of £5.73 on the year. The 10,412 wether lambs averaged £51.06, down £3.37 on last year.
Lairg is the traditional barometer for the autumn store lamb trade and the first to reflect the fortunes of the past year. Ewe lamb prices held up better than many producers had feared, while wethers were back on the year by several pounds in most cases.
Trade was too dear for North Wales finisher John Roberts, who bought 3,000 lambs from Highland auctions last year but went home empty handed after getting his fingers burned with the sluggish trade for lamb in February and March.
“It was a difficult job last year. We had a good autumn and plenty of grass so the bigger lambs finished early, before the market picked up – and that meant we didn’t do well out of them,” he said.
“But the smaller lambs we bought in January and February did pretty well.”
However a loss on last year’s lambs didn’t deter Castle Douglas buyer Andrew MacTaggart from coming back to Lairg with his fleet of floats and his cheque book. He invested in some top lots of lambs.
“We lost money last year but the lambs performed well,” he said.
“I’ve been in the game for a very long time and the stock here are a credit to the producers. Among the stock we bought today were a top draw of wethers at £67 and 222 in a second draw at £61.51.”
United Auctions consultant David Leggat confirmed the trade was a reflection on the prices paid for prime lambs in February and March.
“There was virtually no margin and in some cases losses for the feeders.
“Those who were able to hold on to them until the end of April got on fine but this is the second year we’ve seen this situation,” he said. “The ewe lambs held up well and many lots sold for over £100, which is terrific price for these April-May born lambs.”
The selective trade meant it was a day of mixed fortunes for breeders.
Top flocks met a roaring trade, including Joyce Campbell’s top draw of Armadale ewe lambs, which sold for £160, a boost of £52 on the year.
Her second draw made £102, on par with last year.
“If you combine the ewes and wethers, we were up £2.40 a head overall on the year and I’m delighted with that,” she said.
“The buyers took quite a kicking last year so all that’s saving us this year is the abundance of grass across the country and a general lack of stock.”
Dennis Henderson, manager of Torrish Estate near Helmsdale, saw trade back £7 a head on his top draw of 200 wether lambs, while ewe lambs met a similar trade to last year.
“The buyers didn’t make money last year, so we’ll just have to take it on the chin.”
Inverbrora farmer Malcolm McColl sold a top draw of ewe lambs for £115 – £19 more than last year while his wethers were back £5.
The 35 crofters who make up Keoldale Sheep Stock Club at Cape Wrath sold 580 wethers early in the sale and were back just £1 on the year.