Meat and Livestock Australia reports a significant increase in heavy lamb (22kg to 30kg) throughput in October following limited supplies in August and September. Prices continue strongly, although the latest report shows a slight easing to just under AU$8.00/kg (€5/kg).

EU sheep production for the period January to July 2018 reduced 71,200 head to 22m sheep. The AHDB reports significant changes within the main sheep-producing nations, with UK throughput down 258,000 head, while Italy (-86,000) and Romania (-80,000) recorded significant falls. Spain (+237,000, Germany (+82,000) and Greece (+79,000) compensated for these reductions.

The Institute for the Promotion of Argentine Beef (IPCVA) is reporting that exports for the first nine months of 2018 have reached 253,796t – a 71% increase on the 148,002t exported for the same period in 2017.

According to the USDA, US cattle numbers this October are at a record high, with 11.4m cattle in US feedlots. This is over 5% higher than the same month last year, with heifer numbers up 11.1% at 4.3m, while steer numbers are up 2.3% at 7.1m steers.