Prices & Trends

The Muller Milk Group said the 12 month anniversary of a 25.25ppl standard litre liquid base price was ’not one to be celebrated’

The poor trade for previously sought cattle and sheep hides is having an impact on farmgate returns, with Quality Meat Scotland estimating that cattle hides have dropped in value by 60 per cent and sheep skins by 70 per cent over five years.

Tight supplies are supporting beef prices, but increases may be limited by poor processor returns.

Lamb prices remain above those of last year, although values have weakened a little in recent weeks.

At a time when there is huge demand for sustainable, natural materials, it seems counter-intuitive that one of the most traditional and long established of natural fibres, wool, finds its price languishing and farmers composting or burning fleeces after shearing.

Retail and foodservice demand for beef, lamb and other products is starting to settle following the easing of lockdown.

Various processors have announced upwards moves in milk prices as Covid-19 lockdown measures continue to ease further.

Margins over purchased feed for conventional dairy herds have increased by 24.1 per cent in the past 10 years, to £1,704/cow, according to the annual Kingshay dairy costings focus report.

Farmers must ‘collaborate’ with the wider supply chain in order to take advantage of the new trading environment, which has seen a surge in online grocery shopping amid Covid-19.

The pig market continues its run of stability, with sales underpinned by domestic demand, relatively tight supply and export demand.