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Bad weather hits lamb finishing

This summer’s poor weather is having an impact on lamb production in Wales, according to red meat promotion agency Hybu Cig Cymru.

Almost 96,000 lambs went through Welsh auction markets in July, but this was about 18,000 fewer than for the same month in 2011.

Looking at the wider period from May to mid August, the figure is approximately 30,000 – or 10 per cent - less than for the same period last year.

With the number of breeding ewes remaining relatively constant, it is expected that lamb numbers in 2012 are similar to those in 2011.

“Poor weather conditions over recent months have seriously checked the progress they have made,” said HCC’s Industry Information Officer John Richards. “This has resulted in a decrease of finished – or fattened - lambs in June and July as producers have struggled to finish animals.

“This is likely to change the pattern of lamb slaughtering for the coming 12 months, with the result that more lambs will be finished in the last three months of the year compared with the normal situation. This increase in late slaughtering is also likely to carry over into early 2013.”

With supplies tight as a result of difficult finishing conditions and increased demand both at home and abroad, market prices for Welsh Lamb have broadly increased in recent weeks which would go against historic trends, said Mr Richards.

Further details about current conditions can be found in HCC’s monthly Market Bulletin, which is available on our website www.hccmpw.org.uk