This was a steady week in the sheep and beef markets. Medium-weight lambs in the prime ring averaged £2.22/kg, with similar numbers coming into the ring on the week.

Lamb prices should hopefully remain firm, as strong demand will continue until at least the end of the month when the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival is held. This festival encourages Muslims to buy or slaughter a whole lamb or sheep which is then divided into three parts. One share is given to the poor and needy, another is kept for home, and the third is given to relatives or neighbours.

The official AHDB price didn’t move this week at £3.84/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland for the week ending 10 July.

The 1p/kg gain of the previous week for same-grade heifers was lost, bringing their price back down to £3.84, while same-grade young bulls didn’t change price as they were reported at trading at £3.71/kg.

Cows grading O-4L were reported at £2.78/kg, which is up 1p/kg. Strong prices in the store ring look to have caused 667 more cattle brought forward, resulting in 2,304 store cattle sold in Scottish marts. The national average jumped £99/head to £914/head.

Over 11,875 new-season lambs were sold through the prime ring, an increase of 705 in Scotland, with an average price of £2.22/kg recorded, down 3p/kg on the week. It is not unusual at sales for good numbers of lambs to make over £100/head.

Meanwhile, the UK average price published by the ADHB was £4.82/kg deadweight for R grade new-season lambs – down 5p/kg in a week.

There were 256 store lambs sold in Scotland, with over 200 sold in Caithness. The average price of £75/head.

The live ring sold 6,049 ewes last week, 70 fewer on the previous week. The average price paid rose 76p/head to £73.91/head. While reports from AHDB have shown there is a plenty of British lambs available for kill, supply could be tighter across the EU.

Figures for April this year show that production across the EU27 dropped 10% (5,500 tonnes) compared with last year. Many countries are yet to publish data for May. However, France and Ireland have both recorded production declines. Meanwhile, exports by New Zealand to Europe were down on the year during April and May, 47% and 37% respectively. With a sixweek shipping time, it is that product which is reducing current supplies.