Prices for prime beef and lambs have eased slightly as increased numbers come onto the market. Abattoirs are paying between £3.65 and £3.75 for a R4L continental steer carcase. Meanwhile, medium weight lambs in the prime ring averaged £2.15/kg, with rising numbers through marts.

The official AHDB price fell 3p/kg on the week to £3.81/kg for an R4L steer in Scotland for the week ending 18 July.

R4L heifers lost another penny per kilo to bring their price back down to £3.83, with same-grade young bulls down 5p/kg, so were reported at £3.66/kg.

Cows grading O-4L were reported at £2.80/kg, which is up 2p/kg.

Five hundred more store cattle went through the ring, bringing total numbers sold to 2,804. The national average fell £110/hd to £803/hd.

Over 17,149 lambs were sold through the prime ring, an increase of 5,274 in Scotland, with an average price of £2.15/kg recorded, down 7p/kg on the week.

Meanwhile, the UK average price published by the ADHB was £4.79/kg deadweight for R grade lambs – down 3p/kg in a week. Only 63 store lambs sold in Scotland, all at Thainstone mart, at an average price of £48/hd.

The live ring sold 11,094 ewes last week, 5,045 more than the previous week. The average price paid fell £6.25 to £67.66/hd.

Elsewhere, a 10-year world food production report has been published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Beef production is expected to rise by about 7%, with around 80% of the growth from developing countries. Asia is expected to see a 3% rise in consumption per capita.

The report goes on to forecast that sheepmeat prices are projected to remain relatively high, despite some decline in real terms. Supplies are expected to remain constrained in the two leading global exporters, Australia and New Zealand, for at least the first part of the next decade, due to flock contraction. This will limit supplies available for international trade, maintaining upward price pressure.