Strong prices encourage early store lamb sales: Lamb market update

Key points

• The average new season store lamb price in England & Wales stood at £108/head for the week ending 23 August, 11% up on the year
• While still early, store lambs appear have been brought forward sooner this year, likely reflecting poorer forage supplies
• Forage and fodder availability is a watchpoint going forward as to how successful the establishment of winter fodder crops will be considering the impact the dry weather has had on grass growth

Prices strong for early store sales

New season store lamb prices started the season at similar levels to those in 2025 but peaked in June to reach nearly £146/head, tracking slightly below the highest price recorded in 2024.

Prices have since fallen but remain above 2024 and 2025 levels, averaging £108/head for the week ending 23 August.

Figure 1: New season store lamb prices, E&W, weekly

Source: Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited © Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

Figure 1 is a line chart showing the average new season store lamb price in England & Wales. Prices through 2024 are shown in light blue, 2025 in dark blue and 2026 in green.

Early throughputs slightly ahead of last year

While still early in the store season, current numbers show that lambs appear to have come forward slightly earlier than in previous years.

For the first 8 months of 2026, store lamb throughputs totalled 177,000, up 3% from the same period a year ago.

Figure 2: New season store lamb throughputs, E&W, weekly

Source: Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited © Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

Figure 2 is a line chart showing new season store lamb throughputs in England & Wales. Trends for 2024 are shown in light blue, 2025 in dark blue and 2026 in green.

The prolonged dry weather this year has meant much of the country has had poor grass growth, meaning that keeping lambs is proving more difficult.

Selling store lambs earlier can reduce pressure on grass by conserving forage for breeding stock.

The high prices seen this year may also have encouraged producers to sell.

Forage and fodder availability is a watchpoint going forward as to how successful the establishment of winter fodder crops will be considering the impact the dry weather has had on grass growth.

Finished lamb prices will also be critical. Current market fundamentals suggest a generally supportive outlook, supported by tighter UK and EU supplies, resilient domestic demand and continued export opportunities.

However, several external risks such as bluetongue virus, and changes in trade flows or import competition remain.

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