Beef prices looks steady if not rising, as R4L steers are officially quoted at £3.67/kg.

This is only 7p/kg more than the price in the south of England.

Young bulls graded R4L are quoted at £3.53/kg – over 10p/kg more than the south of England. Reports in November and December were that it was looking like a challenging Christmas market, with supply outstripping demand and roasting joints being discounted to maintain sales.

The poor prices for cow beef, which often steadies in the last couple of months of the year, signalled that manufacturing grade beef was widely available.

Beef-sired cows were making £1.03/kg liveweight in the last week, with dairy cows making 83p/kg in the live ring. Deadweight prices are quoted by the AHDB at £2.39/kg for O+4L.

Lamb prices

The lamb price seems to be steady despite Brexit concerns, with R4L lambs making over £4.33/kg.

Store lambs are averaging around £58/head in the live ring.

Continental breeds are making £63/head, Cheviots £44/head to £63/head and Blackfaces £52/head to £38/head.

Over the last five years, the lamb price has risen by 14% on average between December and March.

Even if you discount last year’s spring bonanza price, it increases by over 10% between Christmas and Easter.

Finished ewes were trading at an average of £58/head over the last week, with 6,341 ewes traded across Scotland.

The biggest rise in price came at Lanark, which rose £13/head on the week.