Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 2 April 2026

Deadweight prices cover GB for the week ending 28 March. Liveweight prices cover England and Wales for the week ending 29 March.

• The GB OSL deadweight SQQ jumped a further 30p on the week to sit at 867p/kg, likely driven by strength in export demand in the run up to Easter
• Overall, upward moves were recorded for GB deadweight cattle prices following a few weeks of reductions
• GB cattle slaughter fell slightly in the latest reporting week, with numbers expected to continue to ease over the next fortnight due to upcoming bank holidays

Sheep

In a continuation of recent trends, the GB old season lamb (OSL) deadweight SQQ jumped again, up a further 30p in the week ending 28 March to average 867p/kg. This put the measure up 140p versus the same week a year ago.

In the live ring, averages showed more muted upward growth, with the England & Wales OSL SQQ up 8p to 421p/kg in the week ending 29 March. Numbers fell on the week (-16%) and were back 13% on the year.

GB-level clean sheep slaughter was estimated to be 270,900 head, up 5% (12,300) on the week, as lambs were marketed and orders filled in the run-up to Easter.

Market reports suggest that export demand has been firm amid tighter lamb supply ahead of Easter on the continent, with prices for lambs in Rungis wholesale market showing strong gains over the past week.

Ewes and store sheep

Elsewhere in the sheep trade, cull ewe prices remained strong, averaging £159.50/head in the week ending 29 March, up £4.60 on the week and £7.10 on the year.

Old season store lamb prices remained firm as numbers reduced, averaging £136.40/head, up £4.90 on the week and up £31.80 on the year.

Finished cattle

Overall, upward moves were recorded for headline GB deadweight cattle prices following two-to-three weeks of reductions, with mixed movements regionally and across the grid.

Overall steers gained 2.4p to average 636.0p/kg, while those of R4L carcase specification held relatively steady at 642.5p/kg (+0.1p).

Heifers were steadier at 634.0p/kg overall, while young bulls gained half a penny overall to average 613.4p/kg. R3 specification young bulls gained 4p on the week to average 628.7p/kg.

GB prime cattle slaughter was estimated at 31,600 head for the week, down 1,100 head on the week but up a similar amount on the year. Numbers are expected to fall again over the next couple of reporting weeks with the upcoming bank holidays.

Cows meanwhile continued to see price gains as throughputs fell back, but growth slowed in the latest reporting week. The overall GB deadweight cow price gained 0.9p to average 527.7p/kg, up 25p on the year.

Estimated cow slaughter across GB stood at 7,600 head, down 500 on both the previous week and the same week a year ago.

Store cattle

Store cattle prices across England and Wales ticked up for the most part in the week ending 29 March, suggesting a strong trade. For the year-to-date (first 13 weeks of 2026), numbers overall are back 11% on the year (including continental, native and dairy cattle). Many are looking to turn cattle out where possible, but ground conditions are highly variable across the country.

© Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

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