Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 12 March 2026

Deadweight prices cover GB for the week ending 7 March. Liveweight prices cover England and Wales for the week ending 8 March.

Key points

• Prime cattle prices eased back 2p/kg on the week in the week ending 7 March, as lighter consumer demand appears to be weighing on the market
• Meanwhile the average cow price grew by 5p/kg, with prices holding above year ago levels despite greater numbers forward in the latest week
• Lamb prices grew slightly, with the deadweight OSL SQQ up 3p/kg on the week to land at 757p/kg

Cattle

GB deadweight prime cattle prices eased back across all categories in the week ending 7 March, with the all prime average measure back 2p/kg on the week to sit at 635p/kg. Young bull prices experienced a larger fall of 3p/kg on the week, with overall prices for steers and heifers both back 2p/kg week on week.

Estimated slaughter of prime cattle totalled 33,800 head in the latest reporting week, bringing the year-to-date total to 316,000 head. This is back 1% versus the same period of last year.

Cow prices, on the other hand, saw a second week of price growth with the overall average cow price up by 5p/kg to 517p/kg. Cows continue to fetch record high prices for the time of year, with this week’s average value 31p above the same week of 2025.

Cow throughputs grew week on week, totalling 9,400 head in the week ending 7 March. However, cow throughputs are still running below year ago levels, with tighter numbers contributing to the strength in prices.

Domestic beef demand continues to weigh on the market somewhat and temper farmgate price growth, despite fewer available cattle supplies. The latest retail data for the 12w/e 22 February showed a nearly 7% decline in total beef volumes purchased. The largest decline was seen in mince which can be attributed to both fewer shoppers in the category and lower volumes per trip. Consumer confidence and the impact of this on spending will be a key watchpoint over the coming weeks. 

Sheep

Meanwhile, the GB deadweight old season lamb (OSL) SQQ lifted by 3p/kg in the latest week to land at 757p/kg. This now sits 18p/kg above the same week of last year.

In the live markets the OSL SQQ also grew, up by 8p/kg on the week to 373p/kg in the week ending 8 March. This strength in the market was mirrored in the store trade, with average OSL store sheep at £120/head continuing weekly price rises seen since the beginning of February with numbers falling back steadily each week as we move through carryover crop.

Estimated slaughter of clean sheep totalled 222,000 head in the week ending 7 March, flat on the week prior. For the year to date, numbers are sitting above last year’s levels, reflecting a higher carryover of lambs, as expected in the AHDB lamb market outlook.

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