The beef price in Great Britain (GB) sustained an upward trend in the week to September 27, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Livestock analyst at AHDB, Molly Corbett said: “The GB deadweight all-prime cattle price gained a further 8p on the week to average 628p/kg.

“The uptick in this year’s price follows a seasonal trend ahead of typically stronger demand ahead of Christmas," she added.

“Tight prime cattle supplies and autumn demand continue to underpin the market, with prices now sitting just 13p below the same week in 2025”.

According to Corbett, the estimated prime cattle slaughter rate increased slightly week-on-week to 29,500/head, but remained 3,000 head below levels reached earlier this year.

“Continued tight availability of finished cattle is helping support prices as processors compete for supply.”

Figures from the Department for Environment, food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in the UK, indicated that prime cattle kill numbers for the year-to-date (Jan-Aug), at a UK level, was 1% lower year-on-year.

The figures showed that “tightness [was] particularly evident through the first six months”.

Kill numbers

In July and August, kill numbers rose by 1% and 3% respectively. However, UK beef production had increased by 1% year-on-year due to the average carcass increasing 9.5kg/head, AHDB said.

Corbett added: “Estimated weekly GB cow slaughter rose week-on-week by 200 head to total 9,200 head.

“Throughput in 2026 has generally trended below the five-year average and has often sat at the lower end of the historical range.”

Sheep

AHDB reported that the deadweight overall new season lamb (NSL) standard quality quotation (SQQ) for GB, edged up slightly by 8p in the week under review, to an average of 732p/kg, or 49p year-on-year.

According to Corbett, “the NSL price in 2026 has been ahead of last year’s price for much of the season, despite a drop from the end of July into August”.

She said that the price had risen again, as a result of the seasonal pattern in the run up to Christmas procurement.

In the last week, clean sheep slaughter numbers fell by 11% to 197,700/head.

The AHDB report stated that: “In live markets, the NSL SQQ price rose 2p week-on-week to average 341p/kg, up 34p on the year.”

Cull ewe prices saw an increase of £2.10 to an average of £136.10/head, or a £27.60 rise year-on-year.

“Finished NSL throughput dropped 3% to 43,200 head, 12% lower year-on-year, while cull ewe throughput fell by 7% week-on-week to 32,000 head, down 12% versus the same week a year ago.

Meanwhile, the store trade has been strong, with store lambs in England and Wales averaged £120.40/head, up 22% on the year.

Store lamb throughputs fell slightly week-on-week to 57,100 head, still 10% higher than the same week a year ago.

Year to date throughput of NSL store lambs has been up 9% year-on-year.