The liveweight lamb price averaged £1.96/kg in Scottish marts this week, up 2p/kg on the week.

Dumfries and Caladonian Stirling marts saw the largest rise in price on the week with 15p/kg and 12p/kg rises respectively.

Finished lamb numbers through the marts last week were at 16,653, down over 3,000 on the week.

The deadweight market reports a price of R3L lambs at £4.35/kg across the UK, which is back a penny on the week.

Cast ewes numbers hit 5,508, with an average price of £54/head, back £2.50/head on the week.

Continental steers average £932/head this week, with only Thainstone averaging over £1,000/head.

With no spike in beef demand, the prime finished market is quoted at £3.66/kg for R4L steers, which is similar to last week

Native steers average £898/head, with Lockerbie Mart selling for the highest average of £1,000/head.

Store cattle numbers hit 3,592 over the last week which is 643 more than last week.

Dairy-sired cows average 92p/kg liveweight in Scottish marts, with beef-bred cows making £1.10/kg. This is a rise of 11p/kg for dairy cows and 4p/kg for beef-bred cows.

Deadweight prices in Scotland are reported as £2.28/kg for O-4L with 5p/kg more for cows in central England.

With no spike in beef demand, the prime finished market is quoted at £3.66/kg for R4L steers, which is similar to last week.

Despite recent depressed beef prices, the UK imported 6% less beef in November ,representing 24,600t, according to the AHDB.

The volume also represents a fall of around 1,000t from October.

Imports from Ireland were 18,600t, 1% higher than last November, and constituted 75% of total imports, up from 70% a year ago.

This increase in market share was also due to drops in volumes from other markets.

Imports from Poland were 18% lower year on year at 1,900t. German volumes also fell by 40% to 500t.