22/04/08
The quality of lambs slaughtered and classified in English abattoirs
has held up remarkably well over the past year in the face of the
serious marketing disruptions caused by foot and mouth disease
and Bluetongue movement restrictions, according to the latest annual
carcase classification results from EBLEX Ltd, the industry body
for beef and lamb levy-payers in England.
EBLEX classification reports compiled from a representative sample
of lambs slaughtered in English abattoirs in 2007 show 58% of new
and 52% of old season lambs classified R3L or better over the year
satisfying the specification for the main lamb markets. This represents
a drop of 1% over the previous year.
The figures indicate producers were selling fatter lambs as the
numbers hitting the preferred fatness of ‘3L or leaner’ were
down by 4%. This is partially explained by a parallel rise in average
carcase weight of 0.6kg over 2006 indicating producers held onto
lambs longer as a result of difficult marketing conditions.
English Lamb Carcase Performance 2007 (EBLEX)
|
3L
or Leaner |
R
or Better |
R3L
or Better* |
|
2006 |
2007 |
2006 |
2007 |
2006 |
2007 |
All
Lambs |
73% |
69% |
81% |
83% |
57% |
56% |
New
Season Lambs |
71% |
70% |
83% |
87% |
58% |
58% |
Old
Season Lambs |
75% |
69% |
77% |
79% |
56% |
52% |
* Both leaner and better conformation
Lower prices in the early part of the year saw producers choose
to hold onto lambs hoping for a lift in the market. FMD and Bluetongue
movement restrictions disrupted the normal trading patterns of
the peak late summer/autumn lamb sales season. The usual export
of lambs under 16kg over this period would have helped keep average
lamb weight down, but this trade was curtailed for a crucial part
of the season.
On the plus side the figures for conformation show a 2% improvement
in lambs classifying as R or better. The uptake of better genetics
across the industry will have had some impact on this improvement
and shows the importance for breeders selecting breeding animals
carefully to produce lambs meeting the required market specification.
The EBLEX Better Returns Programme (BRP) runs courses for farmers
to help them better understand market specifications and selection
for slaughter techniques. English sheep producers wishing to take
part in local events should ring 0870 2418528 or visit the Sheep
BRP section on the EBLEX website at www.eblex.org.uk.
Sea Change in Commercial Lamb Production
Blackface Sheep Breeders Association Spring Show 2008
All Change at Suffolk Sheep Society AGM |