Sheep farmers are enjoying renewed confidence in the sector with the trade for store, breeding and the finished article well above this time last year, and set to continue.

While reduced numbers of 2023-born lambs produced record-breaking prices in the spring, a smaller national ewe flock, coupled with the poor weather at lambing time, is again set to curtail volumes for the coming year.

Add in the cold, wet May and June, and market values are already up on the year due to fewer numbers coming forward – both in the store and the prime rings.

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Prime lamb values were up as much as 10p per kg on the previous seven days at the early sales of this week, and the first of the store lamb sales are attracting £20 per head more on the year.

At United Auctions’ first sale of store lambs of the season at Stirling on Monday, which saw more than 8500 head forward, all types improved markedly on the year.

“That’s the strongest opening sale I’ve ever seen,” said Richard Henderson, auctioneer at UA.

“It was a very good sale with a lot of lambs £15-£20 per head up on the year. They were £2-£3 per head more than I expected and it was the best lambs that saw the biggest rise.

“The better bred lambs with good skins and plenty of size and stretch that are capable of carrying a lot of weight into the spring, produced the best prices.”

Suffolks lead

As a result, Suffolk crosses secured the lead average at £107.51, which represents a rise of £19.36 on the year; with Beltex crosses coming in at £102.23 (+£20.72); Texel crosses levelled at £100.98 (+£12.56); Mules at £93.65 (+£13.15); and Cheviots balanced out at £77.76 (+£1.44).

Furthermore, it wasn’t the heaviest of lambs that were making the top prices, with an abundance of 28kg entries selling for £95-£100 per head and 32kg lambs making £105-£110.

With a lot more grass this year, both north and south of the Border, Mr Henderson added that there were more buyers looking for store lambs on the back of the record-breaking prime trade in the spring.

However, in contrast, he said the poor spring weather and the swing towards ‘easycare’ breeds meant there have been fewer prime lambs coming forward compared to last year.

“It used to be we saw a glut of lambs forward at the end of July and again at the beginning of September, but with more people looking at breeds outwith the earlier finishing Suffolk and Texels, and a reduced national ewe flock, these early lambs are not there to the same extent,”

“But it’s all positive for the sheep industry,” concluded Mr Henderson.

At Lawrie and Symington’s Lanark auction mart, head sheep auctioneer Archie Hamilton said the prime trade was up 10p per kg on the week and 51p per kg on the year at 312p at their sale on Monday, due to the reduced numbers forward.

Numbers scarce

“Numbers are scarce with most sheep farmers’ lambs two to three weeks behind,” he said.

“We sold 1200 lambs on Monday, but at the same sale last year, we had 2000 forward. Lambs have sprouted but they’re not well fleshed because they’ve not had the sun on their backs the same.

He added: “We’re also seeing reduced numbers of ewes coming out because farmers are not speaning as early when the lambs are not doing as well.”

Mr Hamilton said that ewes were also up as a result by as much as £20 per head.

Backing up these statements, Daniel Lynn, auctioneer at C and D Auction Marts, Longtown, said prime lambs are not as far forward as this time last year, which coupled with the reduced numbers of finished lambs and ewes coming forward meant prices were up on the year.

The centre has also seen a huge increase in demand for store lambs with the past three sales seeing rises of £19, £26 and £25 per head on the same sales in 2023.

“We’re seeing new buyers looking for store lambs when there is an abundance of grass about compared to previous years when it can be burnt out,” he said.

“But we’re also seeing a number of buyers holding off from purchasing because the lambs are too dear,” said Mr Lynn.

Breeding sheep

Adding to the positivity in the market, the opening sale of breeding sheep at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre saw 511 gimmers sell to £580 for a pure Texel to average £202.10, up £15.21 on the year, while 187 breeding ewes reached £205 twice for three-crop Suffolk cross ewes and for broken mouthed Suffolk cross ewes.

And, at CCM’s opening sale of 305 breeding sheep of mixed ages, averages improved by £24 on the year, to level at £173.75.

Two-crop ewes averaged £188 having sold to £220 for three pens of 10 Texel, with Suffolk ewes selling to £215 and Mules to £180. Four-crop ewes averaged £168.73, peaking at £190 for Texels.