Cattle hides have fallen in value by 40% in the last year, according to figures released by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (ADHB). Volumes traded have also fallen, suggesting a fall in demand.

A 45kg hide is now worth between £40 to £45 for animals from within the EU. This is a fall from a high of £80 per hide in summer 2019. Hide values outside the EU have also been poorly priced for the last year, between £35 to £40 per hide, which is a steady fall from a high of over £90 per hide in the summer of 2015.

Figures from HMRC for hide exports from the start of this year until August show that volumes of exports have fallen by 23%.

Meanwhile, sheepskin prices are sitting at between £3.50 to £4 each based on a 4.4kg skin. This is down from a price of £5.50 per skin earlier in the year. The highest prices in recent years have been over £7/skin in July 2017.