The UK Government’s demand for a customs union with the EU combined with strong store prices is creating a positive mood in the sheep sector. With the UK exporting 78,000t of sheepmeat a year to the continent, sheep farmers are keen to avoid a cliff-edge Brexit.

Store prices held strong at trend setting sales in Lairg and Caithness this week.

“While there is still all the work to be done creating the safety net for sheep farmers after Brexit, it’s great to see farmers in an optimistic mood with a buzz at sales,” said NSA Scottish chair John Fyall. “Farmers are backing the sheep job with their wallets creating a buoyant trade.”

AHDB figures show that finished prices are up by £5/head, while the July kill increased by 3.5% year on year. The weak pound has helped to drive exports to a three-year high for the month while imports fell to their lowest June level since 2000. Demand should remain strong in the runup to the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha starting 31 August.