Beef heads north while sheep remain in doldrums

ONGOING nationwide supply issues have again bolstered the beef trade with latest figures revealing further price hikes for most types of cattle, and, in all areas.

Latest figures show the all steer average for those sold through Scottish abattoirs rose another 2.8p per deadweight kg last week to level at 463.7p, against those hitting the R4L spec of 467.8p.

Heifers also improved by 1.1p on the week, to 464.2p with those hitting the preferred grade cashing in at 467.6p.

The cow trade in Scotland rose by a massive 11.1p to 387.5p, with the best carcase grades achieving 408.5p.

Notably, the three sectors saw numbers slip by 0.5%, 3.3% and 5.6%, respectively. Young bull numbers fell the most at -25% with such animals averaging 437.8p, which ironically was down 2.6p on the previous week.

Sadly, while the all steer and all heifer price in Scotland is higher than anywhere else throughout Britain, R4L steers in the north of England continue to sell at higher prices compared to those of Scottish cattle. Steers meeting the preferred ‘spec in the north of England last week averaged just shy of 470p, with heifers of the same grade selling for the same price as those in Scotland.

While heading cattle prices are north, hogget

PRIME LAMB values are down 85p/dwkg or almost £18 per head on the year

prices are heading in the opposite direction, with average GB values of 502.5p per deadweight kg – down a massive 83p on the year or £18.26 for a 22kg carcase.

According to Kantar Worldpanel this is the consequence of demand for lamb remaining weak in GB with higher retail prices being the key factor in the reduced level of consumption.

Figures from Kantar show that consumption has declined due to an attributed to increasing cost.

Despite a year on year uplift of sales of lamb,

roasting joints during the month of December for the 52 week period ending December 25, 2022, showed volume sales down by almost 18% compared to the same period in 2021.

Worryingly, sales in 2021 were also lower than in previous years’ levels, driven to some extent by reduced penetration of lamb, it claims.

Price was a clear factor in these changes in demand with retail prices up on average by 9.7% year on year and a similar decline in overall expenditure on lamb which was down by almost 10% compared to 2021.