New season lambs are now coming onto the market in big numbers and as always, prices are easing back fairly dramatically on a weekly basis.

From a peak of 490.7p per deadweight kg for the week ending May 15, average SQQ prices are now fast approaching that of this time last year with the deadweight market falling a further 10p to level at 421p per deadweight kg in the week ending June 12, which compares to 406p for the same week in 2009.

The live trade is no better either with finished lambs sold through GB markets dropping a massive 18p per kg to give an average SQQ of 175p for the week ending June 16. Cull ewes are also down on the previous seven days, cashing in at £63 per head down, £4 per head, according to the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board’s latest UK market survey.

Like the cattle trade, lamb prices in Scotland are holding up better than in England in Wales though, with the live trade in Scotland for the same week – although down almost 21p per kg – levelling at just short of 179p per kg for 5473 head. This compares to the 67,712 sold in England and Wales which fell almost 20p per kg to average 175p.

However, prices took another knock this week with the SQQ at Ayr on Monday, levelling at 168.9p down 6.8p per live kg on the week, while St Boswells fell 3.3p to cash in at 174.5p.