The beef market is likely to stay buoyant in Scotland for a number of weeks according to cattle buyers as most abattoirs pay over £3.80/kg for R4L continental steers. Whilst abattoirs are paying £4.60/kg for R-grade lambs and the live ring paying £2.20/kg for medium-weight lambs, up 4p/kg on the week.

The official AHDB price rose 1p/kg on the week to £3.82/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland for the week ending 25 July.

R4L heifers lost 2p/kg to bring their price down to £3.81 and same grade young bulls didn’t change this week with an official AHDB price of £3.66/kg.

Cows grading O-4L were reported at £2.79/kg, which is down 1p/kg. Fleshier-graded cows will be getting around £3.05/kg to £3.10/kg paid in abattoirs.

Nearly 1,000 fewer store cattle were sold through the live ring, bringing total numbers sold to 1,845. The national average rose £107/head to £910/head.

Over 17,983 lambs were sold through the prime ring, an increase of 834 in Scotland, with an average price of £2.20/kg recorded for medium-weight lambs, a rise of 4p/kg on the week. Heavy lambs were making £2.15/kg.

Meanwhile, the UK average price published by the ADHB was £4.77/kg deadweight for R-grade lambs which slide 2p/kg in a week. United Auctions sold 5,140 store lambs last week. The average price paid was £72.64/head with continentals and Suffolks getting £76/head, whilst Cheviots were paid £46/head and Blackfaces £45/head.

The live ring sold around 3,500 fewer cull ewes with 7,524 through the ring. The price on the week fell £2.27/kg to £65.37/head.

Meanwhile the impact of COVID-19 seems to have damaged lamb sales in France, where between 10%-20% of UK lamb is exported. According to AHDB the subdued lamb consumption is limiting imports to France however this looks to be affecting New Zealand more than the UK. New Zealand lambs sales to the EU were down 47% in April and 37% in May but industry reports suggest the UK is potentially gaining some market share.