Sheepmeat production and demand up with supplies expected to tighten

AHDB analyst Rebecca Obourne said commentary from the industry suggested lambs were ‘likely to go short’ in the coming weeks, with mixed reports as to whether lighter or leaner lambs were in demand.

She said: “While industry reports suggest longer term export orders are slow, driven by Brexit uncertainty, current demand for export lambs appears to be there.”

Mr Ogden said increased demand for Eid had been a welcome boost going into autumn, but there was also domestic demand as Love Lamb Week approached and with weaker sterling also helping, Skipton has seen prices rise at the most recent sales.

AHDB said breeding ewe sales had started the season on a strong note. In more recent weeks, ewe lamb prices were reported as being only just higher than store prices, although higher numbers were reported, with strong clearance rates.

Beef

It came as beef production fell back 1 per cent year-on-year in July, with cull cow slaughterings down by 12 per cent to 51,000-head and prime kill down 1 per cent to 161,700-head, according to AHDB.

However, the fall in prime cattle slaughterings was offset by increased carcase weights.