Sheep producers selling Texel sired new season lambs are bucking current trading conditions and earning significant premiums for their lambs, despite a poor start to the selling season.
In a week which has seen lamb prices stabilise having fallen significantly in the previous three weeks, Texel cross lambs continue to earn significant premiums at markets across the UK, selling at premiums of up to 30p/kg above market averages.
Monday’s (1 June) sale at St Boswells saw prices hit a high of 209p/kg for lambs from Loch Side, some 31p/kg above the market average of 188p/kg, while at Lanark on the same day 45kg lambs from T Laird and Son, Sunnyside, Cumnock, led the trade at 45kg/head.
Meanwhile, at Caledonian Marts on Tuesday (2 June) Texels were once again to the fore, leading the trade at 221p/kg for R A Campbell, Meikle Seggie, on a day where the market average settled at 192p/kg.
And at Newark Market on Wednesday (3 June) Texel cross prime lambs dominated the top prices, with 40kg Texel crosses from R G Davies selling to 206p/kg, 25p/kg ahead of the market average of 181p/kg, and others at 43.5kg from W F Pickard making 205p/kg. Mrs Pickard also led the per head prices, with 46.5kg lambs at £94/head.
Texel Sheep Society chief executive John Yates says both butchers and large-scale processors are attracted to Texel lambs for their consistency and evenness of fleshing. “The breed’s excellent killing out percentage, coupled with greater proportions of prime cuts is making them the first choice of processors and butchers looking to maximise the value of the lambs their sourcing.”
For Cumbria-based wholesale and retail butchers Cranstons Texels are the ideal lamb, as operations director Roger Cranston explains: “Texels make up a large proportion of the lamb we use at Cranstons.
“We like Texels because they give us a well conformed carcass with a high meat to bone ratio which is important as a lot of our cuts are sold boneless. Texels have a good level of finish on them which enhances its eating quality.”
Mr Yates says in a season when new season lamb prices are, for many farmers, as much as £30/head lower than just 12 months ago, the importance of producing the type of lamb required by processors is even more important.
“In years like this where lamb prices are under pressure it is essential producers pay attention to market signals and produce lambs to the weight and finish buyers are looking for,” he adds.
“Live markets have stood the test of time as the best way of achieving fair and open prices for livestock and their competitive nature is even more valuable at times such as this. Those farmers with the right type of Texel cross lambs are earning significant premiums, with buyers clearly willing to compete to buy the right lambs.”
Livestock Auctioneers Association executive secretary Chris Dodds says farmers supporting live markets and presenting the best lambs are being rewarded with premium prices. “Livestock markets offer sheep farmers the opportunity to achieve a true and fair price for their sheep through competitive bidding.
“The live auction marketplace always has multiple buyers looking to purchase well finished and good conformation lambs, with specialised outlets prepared to pay a healthy premium for the best types.”
