While cattle price remained strong last week (to the week end 10August), deadweight lamb prices continued to fall according to Cattle and Sheep Weekly. The SQQ deadweight price fell 19p/kg averaging 403.2p/kg.

Despite this, as the week progressed prices did move upwards following a rise in liveweight prices. The SQQ was 6p/kg ahead of year and stood at 409.4p/kg by the end of the week (Friday 10 Aug).

As with cattle, lamb supplies were tight and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) predicting a 17% decrease in supply on the year with throughputs down 8,000 head to 217,900 compared to the previous week.

The liveweight trade remained unpredictable with the SQQ up 8p/kg on the week to 189.10p per kg. Throughputs for this week were up 13% on the previous week  reckoned to be because of increased prices.

In Europe, prices were declining too. With a  five pence drop in the UK heavy lamb reference price, the EU-25 price declined to average £4.10/kg (€5.19/kg) deadweight, thought to be the lowest since mid July.

In Ireland, heavy lamb prices were also down on thw week although not as much as that seen in England. In opposition, France saw an increase in prices following a recent decline. They averaged £4.68 p/kg (€5.93/kg deadweight).

Spain was bucking the trend with heavy lamb prices on the increase while Germany and Netherlands has saw a somewhat downward pressure on lamb prices.

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