THE prices for prime cattle and lambs are strengthening in response to diminishing supplies, it has been claimed.

Stuart Ashworth, QMS head of economic services, said: "Between June and the end of August, UK lamb slaughtering was 5.8 per cent higher than last year.

"However, during ­September slaughtering was only one per cent higher and auction sales during October would suggest the number of lambs sold through auctions has fallen below year-earlier levels more recently.

"With the number of ewes slaughtered also lower than last year - despite increased lamb carcase weights - sheep-meat production has reduced compared with year- earlier levels and market prices have strengthened, rebounding to levels seen in early August."

Mr Ashworth reckons that the immediate prospects for sheep-meat producers will probably be determined by the orderly marketing of lambs and hoggs.

Of particular importance, Mr Ashworth said, was the extent to which there are a higher number of lambs on UK farms to be marketed before April 2015, compared with this year.

Provisional census results suggest an extra 660,000 lambs were born in the UK in 2014 and by the end of September only an extra 190,000 had been slaughtered, compared with the previous year.

While there may be some additional retentions for breeding, it does nevertheless seem likely that the UK lamb and hogg market will remain well supplied into 2015.

Meanwhile, cattle ­producers have benefited from a slow and steady increase in market prices through the autumn.

This has seen an eight per cent increase in deadweight price since early August, as supplies have tightened,

"With the UK census showing a 1.5 per cent decline in slaughter cattle between 12 and 24 months old in June, it seems likely this tighter supply scenario will persist for a while," added Mr Ashworth.