Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

Deadweight prices for week ending 28 June, liveweight prices for week ending 29 June

Key points

• More stability evident in deadweight finished cattle prices, with the all-prime average measure down just 1p from the week before
• Likewise, new season lamb prices on the hook and through the live ring continued to hold up generally when compared to last year’s volatility
• Estimated slaughter of both cattle and sheep remained lower year-on-year, adding tension to markets

Cattle

The sharp downward corrections seen in deadweight cattle prices slowed further during the week ending 28 June, with averages appearing to level out. The GB all-prime average deadweight cattle price eased by just 1p from the week prior to stand at 631p/kg. This was 155p up on the same week a year ago.

GB all-prime average weekly deadweight cattle price

Source: AHDB

Meanwhile, the overall GB cow price showed similar trends, down by just over 1p to average 501p/kg.

Estimated weekly GB slaughter of both prime cattle and cows remained below year-ago levels. The cow slaughter figure for the week ending 28 June (7,200 head) was the lowest for that equivalent week in at least the last decade.

Sheep

In a similar vein, GB clean sheep prices showed more stability in the week ending 28 June. The GB deadweight NSL SQQ averaged 748p/kg, down just 1p from the week previous.

Deadweight prices appear to be holding up against seasonal trends. Based on the five-year average, over the six weeks to the latest reporting week (ending 28 June), the NSL SQQ loses around 80p on average. This year the NSL SQQ has lost just 5p.

GB deadweight new season lamb (NSL) SQQ

Source: AHDB

Meanwhile, LAA data shows that for the week ending 29 June, the England & Wales liveweight NSL SQQ averaged 350p/kg, down 8p on the week, but up 15p year-on-year.

England & Wales new season lamb (NSL) liveweight SQQ

Source: LAA

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Prices appear to be once again at a crossover point with those recorded for the equivalent week last year, as we compare relatively stable pricing through 2025 with more volatility in 2024.

Estimated slaughter of clean sheep in GB continued to be lower than a year ago, with 165,400 head through for the week ending 28 June.

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