Joe Bowman on two-tier trade.听
As I write, sheep farmers听are turning their attention towards lambing听time.
Reports are that听scan results have been听varied, with most being significantly听reduced on last year聮s crop.
This, of听course, will have a knock-on effect听across the breeding sheep sector,听with store lamb and prime lamb听numbers likely to be reduced next听season.
Poor scanning numbers have听been most apparent in the south of听England, specifically in areas where听farms are still recovering from last听year聮s drought, with some results听being described as 聭catastrophic聮.
In recent weeks, it has been a听pleasure to sell in-lamb sheep, and听here at Borderway we have seen improved numbers on the year.
We听recently held a dispersal sale on behalf of Robin Slade from Hereford,听and the 135 Dutch texel ewes which听went under the hammer sold to average 拢248, topping at 拢400.
We have experienced a two-tier听trade, with good ewes selling very听easily and the leaner, aged ewes听harder to place.
In-lamb Mule ewes听have enjoyed a particularly buoyant听trade, with two shears carrying triplets selling for between 拢150 and听拢160/head.
Early sales of ewes with lambs at听foot have met a better trade than听expected.
At Carlisle, we have seen听different breeds coming forward听and getting a fantastic trade in return.
A personal highlight was selling some Dorset shearlings with听Dorper lambs 聳 certainly something听you do not see every day 聳 and met a听fantastic trade at 拢102 a life.
This听bodes well as we move into the main听ewe and lamb sales season and I believe sellers should be optimistic.
Fingers are crossed for a good start听to main crop lambing and for some听kind weather, as this will ensure听lambs thrive and get the start they require.
With customers looking to听maintain flock numbers after less听than favourable scanning, demand听should contribute to a positive trade.
So, if spring is favourable and the听present-day price of store cattle remains at the current high levels,听ewes and lambs may look like a good听alternative to convert grass against听the significant investment required听to secure grazing cattle.
Cull ewe values have remained positive and, as is often the trend, we听could see a price rise as we head towards the end of March聮s Muslim听Ramadan festival.
The prime hogg听trade has been challenging for the big听feeders and, although the best export听type sheep have continued to sell well,听heavier and more commercial hoggs听have been a disappointing trade on听the back of strong store lamb prices.
With spring very much in the air (despite the snow), it will not be long until we see the start of the early听spring lambs at Borderway.
The current beef prices look set for听the long term and with fewer sheep听nationally, our own home-grown produce must carry a price tag that allows听producers to continue to grow as a听business, while ensuring the general听public has a healthy, local, and quality听product to depend upon.
Joe Bowman
Joe Bowman is an auctioneer听for Harrison and Hetherington.听Call 07736 883 670, or email听[email protected]
