New season lambs are only just appearing on the market in Scotland, but they're unlikely to hit the high prices witnessed over the past couple of years as concerns mount over the financial situation on the Continent and the continual downtrend in the value of the Euro.
A new record price for a Blonde bull sold through auction, was set at Carlisle last weekend, when Alasdair McSporran of the Eilean herd based near Innerleithan, Peebles, sold his best at 9000gns.
Admittedly, the Charolais and the Simmental breeds secured the majority of lead prices, nevertheless, it was a Limousin that produced the day's best at 10,000gns, selling to pedigree breeders, John and James Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, Dunfermline.
Trade topped at 2180gns at the inaugural Spring Spectacular show and sale of dairy cattle, at Lanark last week, which had forward a catalogued entry of 40 cattle, including the part reduction sale of the milking portion from Archie Kerr, Townend Farm, Stonehouse.
Centre records for a commercial dairy animal sold at Beeston Auction Mart's mid-month sale, were smashed when Jack and Barclay Taylor from Myddle, Shrewsbury, sold a pedigree calved heifer for £3200.
Breed records were smashed at Hawes, when a Bluefaced Leicester ewe hogg from Messrs Lord's noted Heygill flock from Stainmore, Kirkby Stephen, sold for £11,000.
Pedigree bulls met a steady trade at Aberdeen and Northern Mart's sale at Thainstone, selling to a top of 6800gns for Buchaam Fourstar, a two-year-old Limousin bull from father and son team, Charlie and Keith Ogg, Buchaam, Strathdon.
Admittedly, the Charolais and the Simmental breeds secured the majority of lead prices, nevertheless, it was a Limousin that produced the day's best at 10,000gns, selling to pedigree breeders, John and James Thomson, Hilton of Beath, Kelty, Dunfermline.
Two centre records were set during the sale of pedigree Charolais at Welshpool, which peaked at a new spring top of 10,500gns, while a new all beef breeds average of £4701, up £995 on the year, was also set.
From a lead bid of 8600gns for the overall male champion, Bromley 1 Midas from home county breeders, Mark and Maddy Roberts, , Ross-on-Wye, a further three bulls sold at or above the 5000gns mark.
With averages up on the year and a top price of £3300, Caledonian Mart's auctioneer, John Kyle, was delighted with the 'Premier' show and sale of suckled calved at Stirling, recently.
New season lambs are only just appearing on the market in Scotland, but they're unlikely to hit the high prices witnessed over the past couple of years as concerns mount over the financial situation on the Continent and the continual downtrend in the value of the Euro.
It is estimated that by 2050, the world will need to produce double the amount of food to feed a booming human population, therefore farmers will have to concentrate more on other types of animal feeds that don't compete with the valuable resources of land and water required for human food production.
SHEEP MEAT production is set to increase this year, while beef production is likely to decline, according to the latest AHDB market intelligence forecasts, which were presented at the Outlook 2012 Conference, last week.
Scotland's recent weather has been more wintery than spring like, but the first of the new season lambs have already been sold in Scotland – albeit in small numbers and at much reduced prices compared to last year.
