Beef prices have fallen again, as abattoirs quote £3.32p/kg to £3.38/kg for an R4L steer, which is down 5p/kg at some processors.

The official AHDB price dropped 5p/kg to £3.46/kg for an R4L steer.

Same-grade heifers stayed flat at £3.46/kg and same-grade young bulls jumped 15p/kg to £3.29/kg.

Cows grading O-4L rose 1p/kg to around £2.45/kg.

Sheep farmers are getting less for their lambs this week at some abattoirs, with £3.70/kg quoted for R grade lambs, which is down 5p/kg on the week.

Finished sheep in the live ring fell 13p/kg to £1.58/kg for medium-weight lambs.

Heavier lambs also fell 12p/kg to £1.57/kg.

In total, 18,614 lambs were through the prime live ring, which is up 1,000 on the week.

Over 10,000 ewes were sold, which is a rise of around 4,000 on the week, with an average price of £54/head, which is down £4/head.

United Auctions sold over 8,000 store lambs last week, with an average of £50/head.

Continentals made £59/head, Cheviots £39/head and Blackfaces £38/head. The national average for store lambs was £51/head, down £3/head, for the 27,000 lambs sold last week.

Meanwhile, 4,175 store cattle were sold last week in marts, with an average of £836/head.

Meanwhile, according to the AHDB, fresh and frozen primary beef recorded almost 5% of growth, although with a lower average retail price, spend increased by 2.4%. Mince and roasting joints, sub-categories of primary beef, both recorded growth in volume. Frying and grilling steaks recorded a decline. Fresh and frozen burgers and grills declined 11.6% in volume. This meant that the combined total beef sales were marginally up, by less than half a percentage point.