The price of lambs has collapsed as a result of the ban on exports imposed after the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth.
The price of lambs has collapsed as a result of the ban on exports imposed after the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth.
Auction markets that are operating as collection centres for lambs destined for slaughter reported prices were down this week by about a third.
Harrison and Hetherington reported that their sale of prime lambs at Carlisle averaged about 80p per kilo live weight, with standard 40 kilos lambs fetching between £31 and £33.
The problem with auctions that are currently being held is that the lambs must be slaughtered and cannot be returned to the farm of origin if the seller does not want to accept the price bid. That has led to blatant profiteering by lamb buyers.
George Milne of the National Sheep Association described the situation as devastating. "The sheep trade really is a disaster", he said. "There won't be any quick solutions and we are unlikely to get exporting again for at least another 30 days".
Thirty per cent of lamb is exported at this time of year so the loss of those markets is catastrophic for the sheep trade. Cattle prices on the other hand remain stable because very little beef is exported.
The Scottish Government, together with other UK administrations and in line with advice from the European Commission, is currently working at classifying Britain into different areas according to disease risk. Until this is done, farming bodies have reiterated their request for abattoirs not to bring English stock into Scotland.
Once the classification is complete, it will be clearer how GB could be divided in terms of the future relaxation of export controls and the implications that would have for the movement of live animals and processing of meat across GB.
NFU Scotland has been urging the Scottish Government to introduce a welfare-cull scheme for small hill lambs, but Milne reckons that won't help the sheep trade in the short term. "A welfare scheme is required in a lot of hill areas because ewes are still nursing their lambs and losing condition. We urgently need to move lambs and ewes off the hills".
NFUS agrees and is pressing for a relaxation to allow movement of animals within a farm for management reasons and between different farms to allow sheep to be moved to new grazing areas.
NFUS president Jim MacLaren said: "We estimate there are at least a million lambs on the hills that shouldn't be there. That is generating a huge welfare crisis".
The union conducted a survey of its members to identify the exact requirements of a welfare disposal scheme, as talks continue with the government on the detail.
