Category: Industry & Supply Chain

HCC’s September Market Bulletin explores the latest market trends and the key factors influencing prices. Key points: Beef prices have stabilised, though still below 2025 levels. Cattle supplies remain tight, with slaughterings down 2% year-on-year, but heavier carcases have kept beef production slightly higher. Cow prices have fallen during 2026 due to increased summer throughput … Continued

Welsh sheep farmers are being invited to take part in a new pilot project that will provide unique insight into flock performance while helping businesses make more informed breeding decisions. The Floctest: EBVs in Action pilot forms part of the Welsh Sheep Genetics project, funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Hybu Cig Cymru – … Continued

Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) has been announced as a Major Sponsor of NSA Welsh Sheep 2027, reaffirming its commitment to supporting the Welsh sheep sector and driving industry improvement. The National Sheep Association (NSA) also confirmed Pilgrims Europe as a Major Sponsor of the flagship event, which will take place on Wednesday 19 May 2027 … Continued

HCC’s Market Bulletin for July examines recently released abattoir throughput figures from Defra for June. Key points include: Beef production for the first half of this year is similar to 2025 despite lower throughput. Sheep meat throughput for 2026 so far is also lower on the year with UK sheep supplies expected to remain relatively tight during the … Continued

HCC’s Market Bulletin for June provides sheep sector insight, focusing on current supply, trade and demand trends.   Key points:  Lamb prices have continued to perform strongly during the first half of the year due to supply constraints and strong demand.   Supply is expected to remain relatively tight during the second half of the year, because of a smaller lamb crop.   Export demand remains supportive, accounting for around one-third of production. Tighter supplies across several major exporting nations is helping to support international sheepmeat markets.   Looking ahead, maintaining competitiveness in export … Continued

Red meat producers looking for improved options for productive, resilient forage are encouraged to get their hands on a copy of the newly published Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL). Hard copies of the publication will be available to collect from the Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC) stand at the Royal Welsh Grassland Event next Friday … Continued

HCC’s Market Bulletin for the month of May looks at lamb consumption trends at GB retail during Easter 2026. Key points: Early April saw a year-on-year growth of 0.9% in take-home grocery sales, while grocery inflation eased slightly to 3.8%, its lowest level since April 2025 (Worldpanel by Numerator UK). Consumers were heavily promotion driven. … Continued

The April Market Bulletin considers the productivity and efficiency of the suckler herd in Wales.    Key points:  The reproductive efficiency of a suckler herd is fundamental for profitability and environmental efficiency. Recent data shows there remains scope for improvement in order to reach the industry’s desired targets: the average calving interval for beef dams in Wales in 2025 was 425 days – … Continued