Livestock price data
Organic Livestock Prices
March 2025
Courtesy of OLMC (www.olmc.co.uk)
 |
£ / kg deadweight Data courtesy of OLMC |
| Prime cattle - Finished stock (Average R4L organic UTM in spec) | £7.30 |
| Cull cow - Finished stock (Average R4L organic OTM in spec) | £5.50 |
| Lamb - Finished stock (Average R3L organic NSL in spec) | £7.50 |
N.B. Prices serve as a guide only and are averaged from information collected from key producers and traders. Accurate at time of writing but may alter due to market volatility.
OLMC Finished Stock Marketing Report March 2025
Prime Cattle
The abattoir demand for organic prime cattle continues, the price has driven forward as the numbers coming on to the market has shortened. Consumer demand for beef remains good currently, both in organic and conventional sectors. This is helping the trade push into realms of price not seen before. The sustained future of such prices is uncertain in the longer term, however the more immediate term on the back of shortage of supply, would indicate similar to stronger prices into the summer months.
Average R4L Organic UTM in spec @730p/kg deadweight
Cull Cow
Supplies of cows coming on to the market remain tight. Abattoirs report lower than required volumes being slaughtered currently. The trade is strong and while demand for cull cows continues and shortages are abound the prices look unlikely to weaken too much.
Average R4L Organic OTM Cow in spec @ 550/kg deadweight
Lamb
The hogget trade hasn't taken off as expected. In past years we were seeing strengthening in price by the end of March. Currently the trade remains static, numbers of lambs have increased as the dry colder spell saw reasonable conditions for finishers. The price will inevitably rise as supplies get shorter well into April through to early June and the new season crop becomes available.
Average R3L Organic NSL in spec @ 750p/kg
For more information, please contact Tim Leigh on 07850 366404.
OLMC Store Report March 2025
In the February newsletter I reported that beef and lamb prices were officially “on fire”. Well, the fire is still burning and it is getting “hotter”.
I was reporting the conventional R4L steer price to be £5.80 and the organic cattle to be £6.80. Incredibly, the R4L steer price now stands at over £6.65 and organics over £7.30. These sorts of rises are staggering and unprecedented. Since February the average R4L steer has increased in value by £300.00. Industry commentators talk about a shortage of cattle but slaughter numbers are at last years levels and some weeks even higher. From my perspective being at the sharp end, I see no reduction in the amount of store cattle in the market place.
The strength in demand is largely down to retail and catering outlets selling the product well with all levels of beef sales strong.
This coupled with lower imports from the ROI are keeping the UK cattle trade at all time highs. Numbers going forward are set to reduce with reports of calf registrations being on the decline and there is no doubt that a lot of suckler cows have been slaughtered due to the strong trade of the last 12 months.
Store cattle prices continue to reflect the increased demand with very few cattle making less than £1000.00 with plenty between £1200.00 and £1800.00.
There has been no better time to sell your store cattle.
Call us for more details and advice.
Peter Jones: 07720 892922, p.jones@peterjoneslivestock.co.uk
David Bostock: 07734 808050
Office: 01829 730580
Website: www.olmc.co.uk
Other sources of information:
Organic livestock prices are also provided at: https://www.meadowq.co.uk/market-reports/
Scotland
Market information can be found at: http://farmstock.org.uk/market-report/
