INCREASED demand from the Easter trade boosted GB live-weight lamb prices in the week ended Wednesday, 12 April by just short of 2p week-on-week to 179.8p per kg for SQQ (Standard Quality Quotation). This left prices only 2p less than the same week last year. However, it is noteworthy that Easter fell earlier last year and so prices had already started to decline by this time of year.

Prices last week rose as demand for the Easter period continued to be high, however numbers coming to market actually fell. With Easter approaching at the weekend, throughputs dropped off slightly, resulting in a decrease of eight per cent compared to the previous week. Numbers were up on last year, once again affected by the earlier Easter in 2016.

Prices were fairly mixed throughout the week, with the GB SQQ on Wednesday 12 April being 4p higher on the week.

Market round-up

C&D Auction Marts Ltd had a smaller show of 3031 prime hoggs in Longtown on Thursday, due to Easter weekend arrangements, that sold to £110 per head and 248p per kg to average 173.5p (-4.1p on the week).

There were also 2809 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £154 for Charollais and averaged £80.03 (-£2.80), while light ewes peaked at £70 for Blackfaces and levelled at £46.29 (-99p). Rams sold to £117 for a Charollais and levelled at £80.26.

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd had 812 store cattle forward in St Boswells on Thursday when heifers sold to £1370 per head and 319p per kg to average £901.33 and 230p (+4p on the fortnight), while bullocks peaked at £1290 and 306.1p to level at £1005.29 and 243.3p (+9p).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 282 store heifers at their "Fair Day" sale at Ayr on Thursday to a top of £1340 and 297.4p to average £863.32 and 224.8p (+1.1p on the week), while 511 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1365 and 281.4p to level at £978.96 and 239.7p (no change). Ninety store, B&W bullocks peaked at £910 and 212.4p to level at £672.81 and 153.7p (+11.1p).

The firm went on to sell 160 store heifers at its April sale in Newton Stewart yesterday to a top of £1280 and 266.7p to average £875.84 and 221.5p (+£121.10 and 18.2p on the year), while 367 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1445 and 292p to level at £1014.45 and 233p (+£103.05 and 22p). Fifty-seven store, dairy-bred bullocks sold to £1000 and 205.2p to average £767.81 and 166.6p (+£166.80 and 18.4p), while 18 store bulls peaked at £1130 and 226p to level at £887.77 and 221.9p (no comparison).