AHDB: Store lamb prices strong at the peak of supply
For the year-to-date, store lamb throughputs totalled 721,100 head, down 5% (38,500) on the same period a year ago. Cull ewe prices continue to track well above last years levels, with the national average price up 20% vs 2024 at £115.30/head (week ending 2 November).
Prices
Average prices for store lambs in England & Wales (E&W) have been tracking above last year’s levels since mid-September. For the week ending 2 November, the average new season price stood at £106.40/head, up £17.50 (20%) compared to the same week in 2024.
Cull ewe prices continue to track well above 2024 levels. The E&W average measure stood at £115.30/head for the week ending 2 November, an increase of £19.10 (20%) year-on-year. This was a decrease of 34% since the year’s high (week ending 13 April) when supplies were particularly tight and demand was high due to religious festivals as expected for that time of the year.
Throughputs
The number of store lambs passing through English and Welsh livestock markets appeared to peak during the week ending 19 October at 68,500 head, a week later than the peak in 2024. Numbers have generally eased since, back to 58,800 head during the week ending 2 November. Supply tightness is reflected in market reports, which suggest demand is firm generally.
For the year-to-date, throughputs have totalled 721,100 head, down 5% (38,500) on the same period a year ago.
Cull ewe throughputs for the year to date also showed a decrease of 9% to total 1.4 million head. New season lamb throughputs were down 3% from the previous year to reach 1.3 million head
The decrease in throughputs for all categories is reflective of the contraction in the breeding flock, smaller lamb crop and exceedingly dry weather conditions throughout the country.
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