Strong Trade and Continuing Confidence

After experiencing one of the coolest and wettest summers in decades, Harrison & Hetherington auctioneer Rory Livesey is pleased to report a thriving market for store and breeding sheep. Despite the weather challenges, the strong demand and high prices are a reflection of various market factors that have influenced this year's trade.

The standout feature of this year’s sheep trade has been the notable increase in prices for breeding ewes and shearling gimmers. A key driver behind this trend is the shortage of available stock, stemming from a high culling rate in the spring. This reduced supply has pushed up prices significantly, with an average increase of £40 per head compared to last year. At the annual Euro Sale of Continental Breeding Sheep held at Borderway on September 6th, which as always attracted buyers from across the UK, shearling gimmers commanded an impressive average of £225 per head,.

The early season trade for store lambs has also been strong, contributing to increased numbers coming to auction. In fact, 22% more lambs have been sold through Harrison & Hetherington’s auction rings than during the same period as last year. This surge in supply has not dampened prices; store lambs are currently fetching an average of £102 per head, a significant rise from last year’s £84 per head.

Ewe lamb sales, a key part of the market, have not yet start4ed in our H&H centres, but early indicators suggest that prices will follow the upward trend seen in other categories.

Despite wider concerns in the farming sector—particularly around the rising costs of production and pressures on cash flow—the market for prime lambs and cull ewes remains resilient, with trade at around £15-20 per head up on the year. This combination of strong demand and higher prices for both store and breeding sheep provides optimism for the sector heading into the latter part of the year.

In summary, the livestock trade we have seen here in the NorthWest has benefitted from the combination of limited supply and strong buyer interest, which has resulted in excellent prices across the board, despite the economic challenges facing the wider farming industry.

So as we look ahead to the autumn season of trading, we look forward to welcoming both new and returning customers to our sales centres and helping our farmers to maximise the potential for their livestock.