Lamb prices have remained firm over the last month. The average deadweight price in October was 564 pence a kilo which is 44 pence above the same period last year. There has also been an increase in the number of lambs processed over this period and we have imported more lamb particularly from Australia where the ewe numbers have increased and the new tariff free trade agreement with the UK has begun. New Zealand’s trade with the UK continues to shrink but the underlying demand has been fuelled by a shortage of lamb in the EU particularly in France and Spain.

I received a letter the other day informing me that from next  month all livestock producers will require an annual  inspection from their vet if they are selling stores or slaughter stock.

This is a visual inspection only so will be of be of very limited benefit to anyone buying the stock. The letter goes on to explain that there is funding available to cover the cost. This funding is presumably coming out of the general agricultural budget and should not be going to vets. Any stock going directly to an abattoir are inspected by a vet. Farmers have had to absorb costs over the last year which have been well above the general rate of inflation and the last thing they need is another unnecessary layer of bureaucratic interference which is not going to benefit any part of the food chain.