Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap

Deadweight prices for week ending 06 December cover GB. Liveweight prices for the week ending 07 December cover England and Wales (E&W).

Key points

• The GB all prime average fell by 3p to 658p/kg, the first weekly decline in 12 weeks, though the price remains 118p above year-earlier levels. This easing of prices this week is likely attributed to softening demand following completion of Christmas kills
• Prime cattle throughput was 2,700 head lower than the same week in 2024 and around 400 head below the five-year average, suggesting supply tightness persists
• Cow prices fell for a fourth consecutive week, down 7p to 506p/kg, likely reflecting growth in number forward in recent weeks
• The GB deadweight NSL SQQ rose by 3p to 714p/kg however the price gap to 2024 has narrowed for a fourth week as last year’s levels strengthened sharply from this point

Cattle

For the week ending 6 December, GB deadweight cattle prices slipped for the first time in three months. The all-prime average eased 3p to 658p/kg, marking the first decline after 11 consecutive weeks of gains. Despite this, the all prime price remains 118p above year-earlier levels.

The year-on-year gap has narrowed for the fifth consecutive week, reflecting the fact that this point in 2024 marked the start of a period of rapid week-on-week price growth, whereas increases this year have been more modest.

Overall steer prices averaged 661p/kg, down 1p on the week, while heifers fell 4p to 656p/kg and young bulls slipped 3p to 640p/kg.

Estimated prime cattle slaughter was 33,700 head, down 1,500 head on the week. This was 2,800 head below the same week in 2024 and around 400 head under the five-year average.

This indicates that supplies remain tight, and the recent easing in prices appears more linked to lighter demand, as many abattoirs have now completed their main Christmas kill programmes.

The cow price weakened further in the week ending 6 December, with the GB average down 7p to 506p/kg, extending a four-week downward run. Cow slaughter held at 12,400 head, 200 above the same week last year.

Sheep

The GB deadweight NSL SQQ rose by 3p to 714p/kg, maintaining upward momentum. Prices are now 23p above year-earlier levels, although the gap to 2024 has continued to narrow in the latest week.

Estimated slaughter stood at 232,400 head, up 18,200 head on the week. This is still 69,300 head below the same week last year, the largest year-on-year reduction seen so far in 2025.

This significant shortfall highlights tight supply conditions which have underpinned the market for new season lambs.

In the liveweight ring, NSL SQQ lamb prices eased by 8p to 320p/kg, yet the price was still 14p above the same week in 2024.

However, as in the deadweight trade, the year-on-year price gap has now narrowed for five consecutive weeks because prices in December 2024 rose sharply week-on-week from this point, meaning current prices are now being compared against a rapidly rising baseline.

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