QMS has published its analysis of the results of the Scottish Government's June 2015 Agricultural Census.
Looking at sheep, the number of ewes that were used for breeding in the autumn of 2014 fell by 0.6 per cent to 2.588m head. In addition the lambing percentage was slightly lower at 125 per cent, resulting in a 1.2 per cent smaller June lamb crop of 3.23m head. This meant that there were 41,000 fewer lambs on the ground than 12 months before, though numbers remained 125,000 head above 2013 levels.
"The English census likewise reported a smaller lamb crop, down by 220,000 head, or 3 per cent, at 7.716m head. However, between June and September, GB abattoirs slaughtered 4.459m lambs compared with 4.212m a year earlier, " observed QMS Economics Analyst Iain Macdonald.
"Set against a smaller lamb crop, this points to a significant tightening of supply for the remainder of the 2015/16 season and auction volumes for October suggest that this process has begun," he added.
Mr Macdonald went on: "Looking further afield, New Zealand will potentially have 1.5m fewer lambs in the system in 2015/16, suggesting that import volumes will struggle to match year-earlier levels through the winter and into spring.
"In terms of the autumn 2015 breeding flock the Scottish census data points to an expansion with the number of sheep expected to be put to the ram for the first time rising by 10.5 per cent year-on-year to an eight-year high of 697,400 head."
Market round-up
United Auctions sold 657 store heifers at Stirling on Wednesday to a top of 239.6p per kg and an average of 203.3p, while 1405 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 254.9p and levelled at 208.2p. Two-hundred-and-twelve store, B&W bullocks sold to 171.2p and averaged 133.2p.
In the rough ring 279 cows averaged 112.3p.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 220 store heifers at Ayr on Thursday to a top of £1110 per head and 220.7p per kg to average £776.64 and 201.6p (-6.5p on the week), while 266 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1280 and 256.4p to level at £831.63 and 205.4p (-5p). Twenty-four store, B&W bullocks sold to £745 and 159.3p to average £543.33 and 134.7p (-7.7p).
C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 2754 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £90 per head and 220p per kg to average 143.5p (+3.9p).
The firm also had 4249 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £138 for Beltex and averaged £61.29 (-£2.71), while light ewes peaked at £64 for Hill Cheviots and levelled at £41.03 (-16p). Rams sold to £112 for a Texel and averaged £69.68.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here