Increase in lambs carryover affects prime hogg prices

HISTORICALLY after a short dip in early January, prime hogg prices have increased through late winter and spring. This year’s prices, however, have remained fairly flat and, as a consequence, are currently 10 per cent lower than this time last year.

“The publication of census results for December from England and Northern Ireland offer some clues to the difference in this year’s prices,” said Stuart Ashworth, head of economic services with Quality Meat Scotland. “They show a growth in the carryover of lambs into 2017 of over five per cent in England and 13 per cent in Northern Ireland.

“Scottish results will be published next week, but it seems unlikely they will show a different trend to those already published.”

UK slaughter statistics show a higher weekly prime sheep kill during January than last year although auction sales were slightly lower. Auction throughputs in January and February also show a higher proportion of prime hoggs above 45kg liveweight than last year, while figures from deadweight price reporting abattoirs reveal a lower proportion of R3L grade carcases than last year.

“In other words,” said Mr Ashworth, “there have been higher numbers of heavy hoggs and higher numbers of over-fat hoggs on the market. “Both these factors act as a brake on price as they result in more out-of-spec lambs that abattoirs need to trade at lower prices, or with higher dressing costs incurred.”

According to Mr Ashworth, despite the weakness of sterling, exporters are finding trade difficult. C&D Auction Marts Ltd had 6068 prime hoggs forward in Longtown on Thursday that included the annual show and sale of Blackfaces, when over 500 were presented in pens of 20 for judging. The championship was awarded to Messrs McTurk, Barlaes, Castle Douglas for a pen of hoggs that scaled 45kg each and went on to sell for £80.

Topping the day’s trade were Beltex at £109 per head with others at 268p per kg, while the final overall average levelled at 166.8p (-5.5p on the week). The firm also had 3924 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £164 for Texels and averaged £79.46 (+£3.57), while light ewes peaked at £80 for Lonks and levelled £42.07 (+£1.52). Rams sold to £124 for a Suffolk and averaged £67.60.