The launch of a new beef campaign will hopefully drive demand, as the UK edges towards BBQ season. However, prices still remain around £3.30/kg to £3.38/kg for an R grade continental steer.

The official AHDB price fell to £3.42/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland for the week ending 18 April, which is a drop of 3p/kg.

R4L grade heifers were reported by the AHDB at £3.44/kg, a rise of 1p/kg, with same-grade young bulls up 7p to £3.30/kg. Cows grading O-4L fell by 1p/kg to £2.33/kg.

The number of store cattle through the live ring was similar to last week, with 6,786 sold in Scottish marts.

Some breeding sales have commenced, with prices up on the year by around £100/head, as heifers with calves at foot averaged £2,500 at a Thainstone sale this week.

United Auctions sold over 2,000 store cattle to an average of £879/head.

The national average was £885/head, up £16/head on the previous week.

Finished sheep in the live ring were trading at £2.14/kg for medium-weight lambs, which is up 4p/kg.

Heavier lambs have followed a similar pattern, with prices up 11p/kg to an average of £2.01/kg.

In total, 11,213 lambs were sold through the prime live ring, nearly exactly the numberof the previous week.

Over 160 new season lambs were sold through the ring in Scotland with an average price of £2.34/kg.

3,310 ewes were sold last week, which is 2,200 less on the previous week.

The average dropped £10/head to an average price of £74/head.