Growing seasonal demand for manufacturing beef is bringing some upward momentum to base prices for cows. Price quotes have risen to £2.65/kg this week. However, prime beef remains stuck at £3.40 to £3.45/kg for an R4L steer.

The official AHDB price report puts an R4L steer on £3.51/kg, up 1p/kg on the week. Same-grade heifers are holding firm at £3.48/kg, with young bulls at the same grade falling 1p to £3.31/kg. Cows grading O-4L have jumped by 14p/kg on the previous week at £2.38/kg, with fleshed cows closer to £2.65/kg.

The official AHDB deadweight hogget price is still at £4.52/kg for R3L grading animals, which is unchanged on the week. Finished sheep in the live ring are also unchanged on the week at £2.06/kg for medium-weight hoggets. Heavier lots are up 2p to £1.99/kg on the back of a strong butcher and wholesale trade.

In total, there were 20,525 hoggets sold through the prime live ring last week, almost double that of the previous week. Over 6,389 ewes were sold, which is nearly three times the number of the previous week.

Higher throughput had little effect on the market, with the average price holding on £79/head. Pregnancy scanning is likely to see a further increase in throughput as empty ewes come on to the market in the coming weeks.

The national average for stores was £67/ head, holding steady for the 5,693 animals sold last week, more than double the number sold the week before. Thainstone sold the most sheep, with nearly 2,000 stores through its ring, with prices averaging £70.53/head. Continentals averaged over £75/head. Across Scotland, continentals made £74.50/head, up £2.50 on the week. Cheviots averaged £58/head, down £11; with Blackface stores on £55/head, down £12 on the week.

The number of store cattle sold through the ring rose by close on 2,000 head to 3,967. United Auctions sold the most cattle, with weekly throughput totalling 1,558, sold to an average of £962/head.

Both Thainstone and Kirkwall marts sold over 800 store cattle. The national average was £890/head, down £90 on the week.