Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 14 May 2026

Deadweight prices cover Great Britain (GB) for the week ending 9 May. Liveweight prices cover England & Wales (E&W) for the week ending 10 May.

• Cattle prices continued to decline across all categories in the latest reporting week as weaker demand and short term cattle availability put pressure on farmgate values.
• Sheep prices sustained at historically high levels, increasing the year-on-year price differential to 163p for the deadweight OSL SQQ.

GB deadweight cattle prices fell away across all categories again in the week ending 9 May, with the all prime average measure back another 8p on the week to sit at 612p/kg.

Average prices for steers and heifers were back 8p and 7p respectively to both land at 613p/kg. Similar falls were recorded in the young bull category, with the average price down 9p on the week to 596p/kg.

Due to the bank holiday Monday on the 4^th May, estimated kill of prime cattle fell across the board. Looking year-on-year, numbers were up 500 head to total 30,300 head in the week ending 9 May. Kill for the year to date continues to sit in line with 2025 levels, with short term supply availability likely weighing on prices.

Prices also dipped for cows, with the overall average price back 7p week on week to land at 500p/kg in the latest reporting. Numbers of cows forward remains lower year-on-year, totalling 6,600 head this week.

Sheep prices held at historically high levels, with the deadweight OSL SQQ at 837p/kg in the week ending 9 May. This is flat on last week; however, the price now sits 163p/kg higher than the same week of last year.

The deadweight NSL price grew by 3p on the week, to land at 920p/kg.

Prices moved positively in the live markets, with the liveweight OSL SQQ up 13p on the week to 413p/kg. The liveweight NSL SQQ was also up, by 12p/kg, to 468p/kg. Cull ewes values rose by £7/head, reaching £165/head.

Estimated kill of clean sheep totalled 166,000 head in the latest week, back over 31,000 head on the same week of the year prior. These continued tighter supplies have likely contributed to price support in recent weeks.

© Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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