Sheep

Lamb prices have decreased on the week following what has been a very disrupted and fluctuating season so far.

Liveweight prices eased on the week suggesting that any seasonal uplift in trade is short lived and a stark reminder of what can be a volatile market. At Louth Livestock market, trade was firm for the 229 prime hogs put forward, which met an average of £87.51 per head at their 19 October sale. Trade topped at £95 per head for some 44kg’s which equated to 216p/kg.

Deadweight prices increased in week ended 20 October, albeit very marginally. Prices generally failed to reflect the stronger prices being achieved in the live weight market at the time. Average deadweight prices came out at 365.10 p/kg, with a throughput of 49,554.

Beef

Cattle wise, prices of deadweight beast levelled on the week standing at 357.5p/kg for R4L steer, which is fairly good and almost 20p/kg ahead of year earlier levels.

For the third consecutive week, prices of cull cattle slipped as a result of poorly finished cull cows and the supply of manufacturing beef outstripping demand.

For -O4L cow’s, prices declined almost 8p on the week to average 258.4p/kg, which is below year earlier levels for the first time in 2012.

Suckled and Weaned Calves

Confidence in the beef sector shone through into the early suckled calf sales with good cattle well ahead of last year’s prices. The averages at Darlington Mart were slightly up on the year with an entry of 903 young beast at Monday’s (22 October) sale.

The first prize heifer, put forward by CR Raine & Son went to £1650, the first prize bullock from JE & E Dobson to £1300 and the 1^st prize bull, from HE Jewitt, to £1120.

CR Raine also managed to top the mart with a bull they put forward, achieving £1580. Prices also held well across the country at Borderway in Carlisle.

A brace of Limousin bull calves led the way reaching £1100 while steers went to £1040 and heifers to £890. Weaned calves also met a strong trade with a pair of British Blue heifers and a Limousin heifer reaching £960 followed by a pair of British Blue steers at £910 and a British Blue bull at £860.

Pigs

While pig prices have improved somewhat, there is still a fair gap between the sale price and production costs.

 In the week end 20 October, the GB EU Deadweight price rose by 8p/kg to 158p/kg. Latest BPEX data reckoned that producers needed a minimum of 170 p/kg to break even. Add this up and producers are making a significant loss per head. At Selby Auction mart this week (24 October) 629 pigs were forward. Cutters achieved 125p/kg with baconers just ahead at 141p/kg and over weights down to 124 p/kg. Sows went to 80p.

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