Livestock price data

Organic Livestock Prices

August 2025

	£/kg deadweight
Prime cattle - Finished stock (Average R4L organic UTM in spec)	£7.50
Cull cow - Finished stock (Average R4L organic OTM in spec)	£5.75
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 August 2025

Prime Cattle

Overall, the stock coming forward has been balancing the current demand for beef. Abattoirs report sales have dipped a little in the past month, thus the price has started to weaken marginally. Summer cattle trade seems to have been set much the same for a few weeks, there is a real possibility of trade coming back as indicated by the current slight weakening in price as we progress into late summer and early autumn. It’s quite likely we might see a flush of cattle as grass gets even shorter

Average R4L organic UTM in spec @750p/kg deadweight

Cull Cow

A very slight weakening in cow prices in both conventional and organic sectors but still . at good levels. A few more cows coming on to the market as producers decide to trade them in rather than get more weight on them. Shortage of forage supplies inevitably influencing such decisions.

Average R4L organic OTM cow in spec @ 575/kg deadweight

Lamb

The trade for new season has remained reasonable strong, as greater numbers have started to come on to the market, we see the inevitable weakening in price. However, the levels of trade are still pretty good for well finished lambs, where producers have been able to keep quality grass in front of them the lambs have performed well. Keeping sustainable quality grazing in front of lambs will be a challenge for many areas of the country, especially where the hot weather and low rainfall has taken its toll.

Average R3L organic NSL in spec @ 750p/kg deadweight

For more information, please contact Tim Leigh on 07850 366404.

OLMC Store Report August 2025

This year, 2025, will be remembered for a variety of reasons in the farming industry and particularly organic farmers whose dependence on grass growth is greater than that of conventional producers. The contrast between the drought areas and the ‘green’ areas is almost unbelievable considering we are all on the same island. The Midlands, South and East are like a desert with some farmers in what is really quite a serious situation with conserved forage supplies either low or non- existent Other producers have an abundance of grass.

The Blue Tongue situation has developed into a costly nuisance for producers in Wales and Scotland. There are a number of cattle and sheep producers, particularly in Wales, unable to buy the volumes of store cattle and store lambs needed to maintain the enterprises on their farms. It does seem that the decision makers have taken a draconian stance without understanding the implications for farmers and producers at the sharp end of production.

Autumn has come early in the drought stricken areas with a lot of cattle for the first time this summer starting to look hollow and hungry. This predictably has brought a flush of cattle onto the market. Incredibly so far the trade is holding up, largely driven by the strong finished price and buyers from the areas with plenty of grass able to purchase the numbers on offer. I think we may see a slowing down of demand in the next couple of weeks if the numbers continue to flood the market.

Looking beyond the next couple of weeks I think we will see a strengthening of the trade. The flood of cattle now will see reduced numbers available in October and November.

The store lamb season is in full swing with volumes of lambs coming onto the market for the same reasons as cattle.

Trade is generally in front of last years levels with some quality forward lambs on the market. Smaller medium and long keep lambs are also becoming available.

A rather mixed report this month reflecting the mixed fortunes of organic farmers up and down the land.

Peter Jones

Phone: 01829 730580

Mobile: 07720 892922

E-mail: p.jones@peterjoneslivestock.co.uk