Lamb price hike should boost confidence

Early indications are that breeding and store sheep prices this autumn will generally reflect last year’s trends but it is predicted that store lamb prices will be less.

A much-needed lift in the prime lamb trade in June by around 15p per kg has contributed towards boosting confidence in the sheep industry. This is further bolstered by recently published figures that show English consumers bought six per cent more lamb in the last 12 months than in the year before according to figures from the English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX).

In the year to May 2007, lamb sales jumped to £513 million in England which represented sales of 87,504 tonnes.
“If the prime lamb price remains at the current level between now and the and of August it will create confidence in the industry to support the autumn sales of breeding and store sheep across our centres,” said H&H operations director David Pritchard.

The season kicks off at Borderway in early August with sales of ewes suitable for early lamb production. Pedigree sales on behalf of all the major sheep breeds are held at Borderway during August and September, featuring for the first time in August a national sale for the Suffolk Sheep Society.

A special sale in mid August is the final draft for the dispersal of Alex Brown’s Stonefieldhill flock held at Borderway. Another special fixture in September is the on farm dispersal of Texels for Richard Oates at Billerwell Farm, Bonchester Bridge, Hawick in conjunction with George F White.

Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association sales are held at Kirkby Stephen, Middleton in Teesdale and St John’s Chapel together with ewe sales at Lazonby and Broughton.

With a good spring lambing, numbers of North of England Mules are expected to be around 80,000 which will be available through Lazonby, Kirkby Stephen, Middleton in Teesdale, St John’s Chapel, Newcastleton and Broughton in Furness.

Lockerbie is now established as the major centre in southern Scotland for Cheviot Hill rams and North Country Cheviot breeding sheep while Herdwicks are offered at Broughton in Furness.

Harrison & Hetherington also sells at the National Sheep Association sales at Kelso and Builth Wells in September.

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