COLCHESTER MARKET

EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD PRICES

The new year saw a tremendous trade in the livestock pens in Colchester Market, with cattle and sheep both making exceptionally good prices; many more stock could have been sold to advantage.

A slight downturn in the lambs during the middle of January reflected in many ways the quality of the sheep forward, with many under-finished sheep being presented but well-meated lambs of good conformation still meeting a good trade.

As stated, prime cattle started the year in a strong buoyant mood. Numbers were totally insufficient for buyers trying to replace stock. Best cattle regularly trading from 260p/kg to 280p/kg liveweight but an exceptional trade of 0+ cattle and those carrying a degree of fat cover, which butchers are moving back to. It is not excessive fat that is required but good cover. Weight was not an issue, with numbers short in all sections.

The cull cow trade also saw a buoyant trade and many more could be sold to advantage in the live ring. This is still very much a growth area in the meat trade with processing beef being to the fore.

There are some concerns about cheaper imports coming into the market place in the next two to three months, but this has happened in the past and hopefully the British public will stand up and buy British beef at a premium price. Good local butchers should be supported to ensure the trade continues. With the high cost of feed and the high price of replacement store cattle, all cattle finishers need the buoyant trade we are having.

The store cattle trade is difficult to judge in the beginning of the year, with numbers very short, but most finishers are well short of requirements.

As we moved into the new year sheep also saw a buoyant trade; in fact the two markets over Christmas and New Year were the dearest seen for some time. Many more sheep could have been sold to advantage.

As stated above, there was a slight decrease in averages in January, mainly caused by the quality of the sheep forward, and it was noticeable in mid January that numbers offered for sale were down. There is a real problem with sheep in that fodder is exceptionally short, with fodder crops being a real problem in the drought last year. The next two months are going to be very interesting.

Store sheep are becoming more difficult to sell, reflecting again the fodder situation. Short-term store lambs are trading from £80 to £100 but longer-keep lambs regularly £40 to £60 and below of less quality.

There are real concerns about imported lamb and beef having a downward effect on the market; 2023 is going to be an interesting year for all of us but hopefully confidence in British meat will prevail.

The cull ewe trade continued to be firm, with best ewes in Colchester trading for £120 to £140 per head with good averages around £100.

Grazing ewes were becoming more difficult towards the end of the period of this report due to the lack of fodder as reflected in the finished hogget trade.

It’s good to see pigs at record prices, but this still means negative returns for producers. Again, the high cost of imports such as feed and labour is having a negative impact.

The cull sow trade has improved due to the euro against the pound rate but is still well below what has been experienced in the past. At least, however, we are showing sows coming to reasonable money compared with 12 months ago.