Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has found that a tight lamb market has "underpinned farmgate prices" as lamb prices increase on the year.
QMS said that prime lamb auction prices had made a "strong impression" at Scottish marts, averaging 436p/kg lwt in the second week of May. Meanwhile, hogg values "continue to hold close to the highs reached at Easter and Ramadan, clearing at 370p/kg lwt.
Iain Macdonald, QMS market intelligence manager, said: “For new season lambs, this represents a year-on-year increase of 26% and an uplift of 54% on the five-year average, while hoggs were valued 35% higher than last year.”
"Tight domestic supply" supports farmgate prices
The market commentary stated that "tight domestic supply" had been one of the factors supporting farmgate prices. It highlighted that last year's GB lamb crop was around 6% lower than in 2022 but, between June 2023 and February 2024, prime sheep slaughter at GB abattoirs had still risen marginally on a year earlier, highlighting an earlier marketing pattern.
Macdonald added: “This left fewer hoggs available at the peak of demand in March and April for Easter and Ramadan, and slaughter declined by 14% year-on-year over the two months. Given the 6% fall in the GB 2023 lamb crop and a 2.6% reduction in throughput between June 2023 and April 2024, it suggests that slaughter will have continued to decline on a year earlier in May.”
"Although the availability of new season lambs is gradually increasing, their numbers remain very low."
Seasonal factors have tightened availability, said QMS, as evidenced by data from Scottish marts. The number of prime sheep sold each week dropped to approximately 16,000 between mid-April and mid-May, down from a peak of around 26,000 per week in March. Although the availability of new season lambs is gradually increasing, their numbers remain very low. In addition, from mid-April to mid-May, the total number sold was 25% lower compared to the same period last year.
In addition to domestic production, the international trade balance "has continued to contribute to a tight market", said QMS. The volume of UK sheepmeat exported during Q1 2024 exceeded the level of imports, at 20,400t compared to 16,600t. This was the case in March despite imports reaching a pre-Easter peak, although it should be noted that QMS found exports tend to consist of carcases whereas imports tend to be cuts of lamb.
Macdonald commented: “A notable feature of the UK sheepmeat market is that a significant rebound in imports from Australia and New Zealand at highly competitive prices has been absorbed by the market without any signs of dampening farmgate prices. This points to a strong level of demand.”
Retail prices supported by lower retail sales
GB retail sales data from Kantar showed "consistent year-on-year growth" in spending on lamb and the volume sold since summer 2023, underpinned by a higher share of households buying lamb.
However, QMS said retail sales had been supported by lower retail prices and promotional activity, and higher import penetration at Easter. British households showed a renewed interest in lamb, but whether they would continue to do so if the "significantly higher" level of farmgate prices seen in 2024 was to result in a higher retail price point was a concern, said the trade body.
Macdonald said: “Looking forward, domestic supply is likely to remain tight until the 2024 lamb crop reaches the market in greater numbers, given the much smaller carryover of hoggs into this year. The market could become particularly tight in the first half of June as Eid al-Adha starts on 16th June, resulting in a surge in demand ahead of this festival.
“On the subject of new season lambs, limited availability at GB level is expected in the early part of the season because early-lambing flocks in southern England and Wales were reportedly hit hard by Schmallenberg. Meanwhile, given the extremely wet weather around the Easter weekend, mortality rates are thought to have been elevated in flocks lambing at this time.
"However, in Scotland, a considerable proportion of lambing takes place in the second half of April and into May, a period of much more favourable weather conditions. In particular, this suggests that there could be a stronger supply of store lambs from the hills this year.”
Weather creates "expectation of increased mortality"
The other variable influencing this year’s lamb crop will be the breeding flock last autumn, said QMS. On one hand, ewe condition at tupping in autumn 2023 was much more favourable than in 2022, when there had been drought conditions, particularly in southern England and Wales, signalling the potential for a better lambing rate this year.
Macdonald added: “However, England’s Sheep and Goat Inventory results showed a 4% decline on a year earlier in the breeding sheep population, suggesting little room for an increase in lamb numbers before factoring in the expectation of increased mortality due to the weather in late-March and early-April.
“Unfortunately, no December sheep results have been published for Scotland, but the ewe flock in June 2023 was down by 1.7% on 2022, and the 4.1% reduction in the lamb crop signalled little potential for increased retentions to the breeding flock.”
International trade
On the international trade side, while Australia and New Zealand’s production season has passed its peak, highly competitive prices are set to ensure that import competition remains considerable. However, a continued reduction in the EU ewe flock should ensure that UK export demand remains strong.
“Overall, the combination of tight domestic supply and strong demand, both domestically and internationally, is expected to continue supporting farmgate prices as the new season progresses,” concluded Macdonald.
