Deadweight prices continued to strengthen this week ahead of the Christmas period although prime cattle slaughterings were 6% lower than that in the corresponding week last year. Live weight, heifers were up 1.9 p/kg to stand at 200.9 p/kg while steers rose 0.7 p/kg to 196.2 p/kg to the week ending (Nov 28). Despite this, the better cattle around are likely to have been sold already therefore plainer cattle are now coming onto the market which in live weight terms will likely mean live weight prices slump in the coming weeks.

As the Christmas procurement period draws to close, prices have held up due to tight supplies, an EBLEX report said. In deadweight markets, the R4L steer held the best, up over 6p/kg on the week to stand at 368.5 p/kg. Heifers weren’t too far behind, up 5.6 p/kg to reach 364.6 p/kg.

A big difference has been seen in the sheep sector with strong demand in GB live weight auctions showing the strongest week-on-week growth in lamb since early August. Similar to cattle, domestic and export markets beckon  ahead of the Christmas period which has meant a glimmer of hope for some seasonal uplift in prices which hasn’t happened so far this year.

In the week ending 28 November, the lamb SQQ was up 6.9 p/kg to reach 154.9 p/kg while cull ewes were up £2 per head and store lambs £1.20 to reach £49.30 and £44 retrospectively.

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