Breeding sheep sales started this week, with gimmers costing over £160/head in Thainstone. The prime lamb trade remains strong, with £2.12/kg for medium-weight lambs bringing a 45kg lamb to over £95/head and many heavier lambs will be making over £100.

The beef market is reporting rises across the board, with the AHDB noting increased values for steers, heifers, young bulls and cows.

The official AHDB price rose 5p/kg on the week to reach £3.87/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland for the week ending 1 August.

There were 106 more store cattle sold through the live ring, bringing total numbers sold to 1,845

R4L heifers also rose 5p/kg to £3.86/kg, while same-grade young bulls jumped 7p/kg to an AHDB price of £3.73/kg.

Cows grading O-4L were reported at £2.81/kg, which is up 2p/kg.

There were 106 more store cattle sold through the live ring, bringing total numbers sold to 1,845. The national average rose £35/head to £995/head.

Over 21,600 lambs were sold through the prime ring, an increase of 3,645 in Scotland, with an average price of £2.12/kg recorded for medium-weight lambs, a fall of 8p/kg on the week.

Heavy lambs were only discounted 2p at £2.10/ kg, indicating demand is there for bigger lambs.

The biggest sale saw over 12,000 sold at United Auctions

Meanwhile, the UK average price published by the AHDB stayed at £4.77/kg deadweight for R grade lambs.

There were 14,370 store lambs sold in Scotland last week.

The biggest sale saw over 12,000 sold at United Auctions, averaging £68.60/ head, with continentals getting £71.50/head, Cheviots at £57/head and Blackfaces £42/head.

At Castle Douglas, over 1,300 store lambs sold to an average of £72.30.

The live ring sold similar numbers of cull ewes to the previous week, with 7,198 through the ring. The price on the week rose 46p/head to £65.85/head.

Meanwhile, heavy discounts on steaks in May looks to have shifted significant volumes of more expensive cuts. Steaks accounted for 23% of beef sales in June. AHDB analysis also shows that beef prices in shops have risen 6p/kg on the year to average £7.77/kg.