FOLLOWING several weeks in the doldrums, Scottish beef cattle prices are at last showing some real signs of improvement as the meat processors gear up for the festive period.
While those cattle hitting the spec' and above did see values nudge slightly north last week, the most recent figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reveal that averages in all sections in Scotland improved significantly.
Figures for the week ending November 18, show steer prices rose by 6.0p to level at 383.6p and for 10.2% more, with those hitting the R4L spec' cashing in at 386.9p, up 3.5p. 
Heifers improved by a similar rate to 384.5p, with numbers up 2.0%, with those hitting spec rising 4.4p at 387.0p.
These compare to prices south of the Border where overall steer values in England and Wales fell 0.1p on the week to 357.5p for just 1.5% more, while the heifer trade rose 2.8p for 2.2% fewer, to average 362.1p.
The young bull and cow trade was also up on the week both north and south of the Border, with the Scottish figures rising 15.0p and 4.2p, to level at 360.3p and 258.4p, respectively. Numbers were, nevertheless, down the week by 3.3% and 10%, respectively.
“This past week and next are traditionally the Christmas kill weeks for the processors,” said John Angus, cattle sales’ manager and newly appointed head of livestock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, adding that store cattle values have also improved.
“There is a lot more confidence in the sector and a bit of a buzz round the store cattle ring now that farmers have got on top of the harvest and got their fields cleared. 
“The quality of the cattle coming forward is also that bit better too as they have had a spell inside on straw bedding and better feed,” he said, pointing out that while values for the top end of stores remain unchanged, some of the poorer types have seen prices rise £50 per head on the month.
However, with the amount and quality of available straw remaining a huge issue, Mr Angus is expecting a lot more store cattle to be sold earlier than normal, at the turn of the year.
While the cattle trade has been bolstered, prime lamb values remain disappointingly low, albeit still slightly higher than this time last year. 
With the SQQ at 167.07p for the week ending November 15, prices are another penny plus down on the week. Add to that price reductions at the early markets of this week, and values for the forth coming week are not looking good either. 
On Monday, lambs sold through Scottish markets cashed in at 165.0p, which was down 5.2p on the previous week while on Tuesday, values slipped 3.5p to 165.1p. 
Prices also slipped in England and Wales, by half a penny on Monday to 168.2p and 2.3p on Tuesday to 167.6p.
On a more positive note, Colin Slessor, sheep sales’ manager and deputy head of livestock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, said store lamb values have improved, especially for the longer keep lambs, in recent weeks, with such entries rising up to £10 per head over the past month.
Meanwhile, on a completely different tack, Robert Logan, SRUC sheep specialist, pointed to a change in the market, with the retailers at long last looking to ‘lock in’ home produce.
“The retailers are now having to question their supplies with Brexit approaching. They need to make sure they have enough food on the shelves, so we could start to see the first stages of aligned contracts,” he said.