Lamb prices have not seen their usual uplift in the run-up to Eid al-Adha, although cull ewe pricing has received support from the festival.
For the week ending June 8, the new season lamb deadweight average across Great Britain stood at 808p/kg, down 42p/kg on the week, while the old season lamb average stood at 739p/kg, down 55p/kg on the week.
Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) market intelligence manager Iain Macdonald said: "So far in June, we have not seen the lift in lamb prices and auction throughput at Scottish auctions in the run up to Eid al-Adha of previous years.
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"However, lamb price stability at around £4/kg LWt does suggest that Eid celebrations may have had some impact, given the otherwise downwards seasonal trend due to new season lamb supply building.
Eid al-Adha
"It should also be noted that auction throughput continues to be limited by a slow start to the new season following the wet spring and a reduced carryover of hoggs into 2024," Mr Macdonald said.
"As a result, the lamb market remains historically firm with new season lamb prices averaging 33 per cent higher than last year and 50 per cent above the five-year average in the week ending June 12."
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He added they also saw some uplift in cull ewe pricing and throughput around two weeks before Eid al-Adha.
Glesni Phillips, intelligence, analysis and business insight executive at Hybu Cig Cymru, said: "It is clear that prices within the sheep market were falling before the beginning of Eid al-Adha on June 16."
Strong numbers
She added early industry reports suggested the price for this week had not improved.
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"This is likely due to numbers coming forward being strong. For the week ending June 8, new season lamb numbers were up almost 30 pr cent on the previous week to 19,000 head.
"It is likely producers would be marketing their new season lambs now ahead of the expected demand for Eid, but this is weighing on the average."
