Weekly cattle and sheep market wrap – 9 October 2026

Deadweight prices cover Great Britain (GB) for the week ending 3 October. Liveweight prices cover England and Wales (E&W) for the week ending 4 October.

• The GB all-prime average rose 7p from the previous week to 635p/kg. This marked the fourth week running of price growth as supplies continue to sit below year ago levels
• The overall average cow price was up by 10p to 471p/kg in the latest week but still sits 42p lower than last year
• Finished sheep prices remained stable, with the GB deadweight NSL SQQ, sitting at 732p/kg, with higher throughputs coming forward

For the week ending 3 October, the GB all-prime average price rose 7p from the previous week to 635p/kg.

Steers average 637p/kg, an increase of 6p from the previous week, while heifers gained 8p to reach 635p/kg. Young bull prices saw an increase of 5p to 620p/kg.

Figure 1. GB all-prime average deadweight cattle price

Source: AHDB

Figure 1 shows a line chart showing weekly GB all-prime average deadweight cattle prices (p/kg) for 2024, 2025 and 2026, compared with the five-year average and five-year range.

Estimated prime cattle slaughter reached 29,800 head in the same week, around 300 head higher than the previous week and 1,500 head below the same period last year.

The overall average cow price was up 10p to 471p/kg in the latest week, but still sits 42p lower than last year. Throughputs of cows increased by 600 head to reach 9,800 head. However, this is 700 head lower than the same week last year reflecting continued pressure on cow availability.

Beef foodservice performance data for the 52 weeks to 6 September 2026, showed that volumes declined 2.9%, primarily due to takeaways, which saw a −6.7% decline in volumes year-on-year. Burgers performed well, potentially due to the hot weather seen over the summer months. Asian dishes also saw growth while Italian, meat centred meals such as a roast dinner, savoury pastry and Mexican all saw declines.

Finished sheep prices remained stable, with the GB deadweight NSL SQQ, sitting at 732p/kg in the week ending 3 October.

Meanwhile, estimated slaughter increased by 11,000 head on the week prior to 208,500 head. This remains 8,400 head lower than in the same week in 2025.

Figure 2. Estimated weekly GB lamb slaughter

Source: AHDB, Defra

Figure 2 shows a line chart showing estimated weekly GB lamb slaughter volumes (thousand head) for 2024, 2025 and 2026 compared with the five-year average.

Looking across to the live markets, the E&W liveweight NSL SQQ lost 4p on the week to sit at 337p/kg, this is 32p higher than the same week last year. Throughputs remained level on the week before.

Cull ewes averaged £137/head in the week ending 4 October, a minimal loss from the previous week, but remaining above 2025 levels. Throughput of ewes saw an increase of 1,800 head from the previous week.

Lamb foodservice performance data for 52 weeks to 6 September 2026, showed that volumes declined 9.3% driven by decreases in both takeaways and dine-in/on-the-go dishes, likely due to average price increases of +3.5%.

Asian dishes saw an increase, but declines were seen for kebabs, Indian and meat centred meals.

© Livestock Auctioneers Association Limited 2026. All rights reserved

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