Processing plants across Scotland appear to be keeping a firm lid on cattle prices, with R4L steers holding on £3.40 to £3.45/kg this week. However, numbers are tightening, with farmers able to book cattle into abattoirs without facing any kind of waiting list.

The official AHDB price is still sitting at £3.50/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland, which is a 2p/kg rise on the previous week. Same-grade heifers are up 1p/kg to £3.48/kg and same-grade young bulls increased by 4p/kg to £3.32/kg. Cows grading O-4L are down 2p/kg on the previous week at £2.26/kg, with good-quality fleshed cows making closer to £2.60/kg.

Heavier lots are up 13p to £1.97/kg on the back of demand from the butcher and wholesale markets

The official AHDB deadweight lamb price is £4.52/kg for R3L grade animals, which is up 18p/kg since Christmas.

Finished sheep in the live ring have risen by 14p to £2.06/kg for medium-weight animals. Heavier lots are up 13p to £1.97/kg on the back of demand from the butcher and wholesale markets.

In total, 10,660 lambs were sold through the prime live ring, which is down over 9,315 on the previous week.

Over 2,862 ewes were sold live, down by more than 4,000 head on the previous week, with an average price of £79/head, up £14 week on week.

Cheviots averaged £67/head, down £19

Castle Douglas sold the most sheep with over 1,500 store lambs sold through the ring. Prices averaged £69.70/head, with continentals making £76.02.

Across Scotland, continentals made £72.60/head, up £6; Cheviots averaged £67/head, down £19; while Blackface lambs averaged £67/head, up £17 on the week.

The national average was £67/ head, up £10.

The number of store cattle sold through the live ring increased by approximately 1,000 head, with 2,022 animals sold.

ANM Thainstone Mart sold the most at 1,060 head, at an average of £1,035/head. The national average was £982/head, up £160 on the week.