Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 18 September 2026

Deadweight prices cover Great Britain (GB) for the week ending 12 September. Liveweight prices cover England and Wales (E&W) for the week ending 13 September.

• Prime cattle prices grew by 4p on average this week, as return to regular household routines and cooler weather likely supports demand.
• Average cow prices have levelled in the latest week’s data at 446p/kg, as kill numbers fall behind historic averages for the week.
• Lamb prices across both the live and deadweight trade saw modest uplifts in the most recent week, with historically low numbers still underpinning prices.

GB prime cattle prices have seen another week of steady growth, with the all-prime average deadweight measure up 4p on the week to 615p/kg for the week ending 12 September. Looking across categories, uplifts were seen in the average prices for steers, heifers and young bulls, with weekly gains ranging from 3-5p.

Estimated slaughter of prime cattle lifted to 31,000 head, following a shorter bank holiday kill week. However, this sits below historic levels for the same week. Kill for the year-to-date is just marginally behind (-0.3%) 2025 levels.

Reports indicate seasonal increases in demand as we enter the back-to-school period and the weather cools, likely providing some price support in the short term.

The average cow price appears to have stabilised at 446p/kg in the latest week, following several weeks of decline. This remains significantly lower than prices reported a year ago, with a 64p gap to the same week of 2025.

Throughput of cows totalled 8,600 head, back on historic averages for this time of year, where we usually begin to see increasing weekly cow kills in the lead up to winter housing.

We saw increased numbers of cows coming forward through August, likely linked to the hot weather and challenges around grass availability. This pressured prices, contributing to the significant falls in recent weeks. How culling decisions proceed into Autumn given the recent rains and recovery in dairy markets will be a key influence on prices going forward.

Meanwhile, a small uplift was reported in the deadweight new season lamb (NSL) SQQ for the second consecutive week, following seasonal declines. The price averaged 713p/kg in the week ending 12 September, up 5p on the week prior, to sit 53p above year-ago levels.

Estimated slaughter of clean sheep totalled 208,600 head for the latest week, up 26,300 head from the week before. Numbers remain lower than last year’s sum with the smaller ewe flock and disease pressure, and improving grass growth may be reducing urgency to sell.

Looking into the live trade, the liveweight NSL SQQ averaged 333p/kg in the week ending 13 September, growth of 9p on the week, according to data from the Livestock Auctioneers Association. In contrast, average prices for cull ewes eased slightly, to £134/head, despite throughputs dipping back marginally on the week.

Store sheep numbers continue to grow seasonally, with over 65,400 head sold in the last week. Prices also grew on the week, with NSL stores averaging £118/head, up £10.50 on the week before.

© Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

You can subscribe to receive beef and lamb market news straight to your inbox. Simply fill in your contact details on our online form.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.