Ian Atkinson on the spring lamb trade.
As I write, the prime hogg season is coming to an end with many high prices being smashed. Who would have thought it following Brexit? The spring lamb season has set off strongly, with numbers remaining tight, but starting to come forward in larger numbers following a slow spring.
More companies are beginning to express interest in spring lambs, with many vendors reporting £20 a head and more up on the same week as last year. Predictions would say that with the end of Ramadan at the start of May, cast sheep and prime hoggs will be in strong demand.
If the spring lamb trade remains buoyant many will be tempted to draw their lambs at lighter weights to take advantage of the high prices, therefore less lamb meat available on the market. Trade will hopefully remain strong until EID in July.
As the Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease, it is great to start welcoming farmers back into the markets under strict Government guidelines. The auction markets play such a key role for rural areas, offering the opportunity for the farming community to come together and share information, as well as just have a chat with each other, which is so key in what can be a lonely industry.
Nothing beats the buzz of a busy auction market and having proud stockpeople showing off their livestock to their full potential from prime stock to breeding stock. We should be very proud of the industry we work in, with British farmers offering some of the highest welfare and traceability in the world.
Upland farming is seen in this area as one of the most environmentally friendly ways of producing protein to feed the nation. Lambs produced in the uplands farmed extensively is a great way of producing meat as well as keeping the uplands looking wonderful, attracting tourism into the local area and bringing much needed money into the rural economy.
As we enjoy the current high farmgate prices, this is hopefully becoming the norm, as many of you will be well aware production costs have soared in recent years and the price we receive for our product has not.
As we plan for the future with the loss of the Basic Payment Scheme, this is a worrying thought for many upland farmers in our area.
As auctioneers, I see us as key components in the supply chain, creating healthy competition and ensuring farmers get the best possible price for their product. One thing about the supply chain is that everybody must be making a healthy profit so their businesses are sustainable.
We have often seen farmers not receive enough and I hope it levels out soon at a sustainable price to keep as many businesses going to help maintain healthy and viable competition.
Many of you will be busy lambing or coming to the end of the lambing and calving season. I hope you have had a successful time. This bit of rain we are currently enjoying will hopefully give the grass and crops a boost.
Ian Atkinson
Ian Atkinson is an auctioneer at North West Auctions. Call 01539 566 200 or email [email protected]
