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News
Members Update – 16 October 2025
Regional Meetings – October 2025 – Book places
QMS Market Update
Update 17-10-2025
Regional Meetings – October 2025 – Book places
We’re gearing up for the next round of Regional Meetings and would love to see you there!
To help us manage catering and reduce waste (samples, teas, and coffees will be provided), please confirm the number of spaces required in advance.
At the meetings there will be a presentation from Robertson Fine Foods, Young Butcher Innovation , Traditional Steak Pie( kindly sponsored by Wm Sword) & Speciality Meat Pie Awards ( kindly sponsored by Dalziel Retail Butchery) Results and more.
Come along and meet up with fellow members.
All meetings will run from 7.30pm to 9pm.
|
Date |
Venue |
Region |
|
Monday |
Garfield House Hotel, Stepps |
WEST – Argyll, Bute and Islay, Glasgow, Paisley, Lanarkshire |
|
Tuesday 21st October 2025 |
The Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells |
SOUTH EAST – Edinburgh, Lothian & Borders |
|
Wednesday 22nd October 2025 |
Laichmoray Hotel, Elgin |
NORTH – Aberdeenshire, Moray Highlands, Western Isles |
|
Thursday |
Murrayshall Country Estate, Scone Nr Perth |
EAST – Dundee, Angus, Fife, Forth Valley, Stirling, Perth And Kinross |
Please book your places by calling Bruce McCall Tel: 01738 637472 or email [email protected].
Please find our latest market update attached. A summary of the key points is below.
QMS Market Update
QMS-market-update-October-2025
Beef:
- Prime cattle prices were relatively stable in September despite a seasonal rebound in slaughter, suggesting some improvement in demand. While 9% below the spring peak, prices were 25% above 2024 levels, reflecting
reduced production this year. Attractive finished cattle prices and reduced numbers have continued to underpin the store trade, although price levels point to a significant squeeze on finishing margins. Cow prices have
steadied around 6% below the spring peak but 35-40% higher than last year, signalling a stronger market for cow beef than for prime beef.
- Defra prime cattle slaughter figures point to a significant reduction of nearly 6% in GB in the first eight months of 2025, helping to explain the upwards rebalancing of farmgate prices this year. Lower cow beef production also contributed to an overall decline in UK beef production of nearly 5% in the January to August period.
- In Scotland, weekly prime cattle slaughter showed a strong seasonal rebound in September but continued to trail year-earlier levels, reflecting a 3% decline in numbers on farm in July, a softer volume of demand than last year, and one less abattoir.
- A softer volume of demand in the domestic market due to surging consumer prices supported export activity in the summer while leading to a surge in imports of competitively priced beef from non-EU countries, mainly for use in the foodservice sector. However, this had limited impact on overall market supply, which still fell more than 3% in the January to July period.
- While numbers on farm in July pointed to continuing tight supply throughout the remainder of 2025, the very low level of slaughter during the summer adds some uncertainty and availability may not prove as tight as previously expected. A slight rebound in calf numbers on farm in July, reflecting reduced mortality in spring 2025, could support availability of longer keep stores at autumn sales. Looking longer-term, it could then feed through to an improved supply-side picture by mid-2026, offsetting the reduced population of older prime cattle.
Sheep:
- After a delayed seasonal reduction, lamb prices stabilised between late-August and early-October at Scottish auctions, running around the £3/kg lwt mark and 5-10% higher than last year. Prices were supported by sluggish throughput for the time of year.
- Store lamb prices have been elevated 10-15% higher than 2024 levels, looking slightly stronger than the finished lamb trade. This is despite increased throughput, in contrast to the finished lamb trade, signalling high levels of confidence.
- After increasing in July, GB abattoir slaughter fell back relative to 2024 in August and market pricing suggests that this may have continued in September. England’s June census results indicated a surprisingly low lamb crop this year, suggesting that numbers could remain tight this season. Scotland’s census results are due for release at the end of October. While a tightening in lamb numbers after a stronger start than last year suggests we may have a lower lamb crop, this may have been influenced by dry weather in eastern Scotland and store lamb throughput has increased at Scottish auctions.
- While remaining higher than last year, UK lamb export volumes softened in July after a very strong second quarter. Meanwhile, imports surged higher. Despite this combination, plus increased domestic production during the month, lamb prices held firm, signalling strong demand. It may have taken until August for these supply side changes to influence market prices, and retail sales appear to have remained weak in August.
- A jump in lamb prices in the Southern Hemisphere reflecting seasonally lower production, a tightening of supply from 2024 levels and strong overseas demand is likely to have pushed up UK import prices further, potentially setting a higher market floor. US tariffs of 10% on Australian lamb and 15% on New Zealand lamb may be leading to increased interest in shipping lamb to the UK market tariff-free.
Pig:
- Per kilo pig prices continued to follow a normal seasonal trend in September, falling slowly from their summer peak as weekly availability for slaughter and carcase weights trended higher. Though around 1% lower than last year, prices were still 10-15% above the five-year average and are estimated to have held slightly above the cost of production, supporting producer confidence.
- GB prime pig slaughter started the year showing increases, fitting with England’s December census results. However, by June, census results were showing a slight reversal and GB slaughter fell back during the summer.
- The number of pigs leaving Scottish farms for slaughter has continued to show a small year-on-year reduction, of 1.5%, but the Scottish abattoir prime pig kill continued to increase on 2024 levels in September, signalling favourable market demand.
- UK pig market supply rose by around 4% in 2024 and further increases occurred in the first half of 2025 as a fall in net imports was unable to fully offset the increase in domestic production. However, domestic production fell back in the summer and overall market supply began to reduce from 2024 levels, without boosting market prices.
- Imports from the EU remained sluggish in the first seven months of 2025 despite highly competitive pricing. Meanwhile, UK exports increased slightly from a low base, mostly to China, despite the Chinese market continuing to look well-supplied. This export growth may reflect improved market access following the renewal of export licenses and opportunities caused by increased Chinese tariffs on US pork. Looking ahead, higher Chinese tariffs on EU pork that were imposed in September may support further opportunities for UK pork.
Economic Development:
- In 2025, geopolitical challenges have had surprisingly limited impact on energy prices, although natural gas and fertiliser prices have remained elevated in Europe. Meanwhile, positive global harvest prospects have ensured that feed costs remain anchored and futures markets are signalling that this is set to remain the case over the winter.
- According to the ONS, average earnings growth continued to hold slightly above inflation in the summer, supporting disposable incomes, while the UK labour force survey has suggested limited impact on the labour market from increased minimum wages and employer national insurance rates. Higher unemployment has reflected previously inactive people returning to the labour market, with employment increasing more slowly than labour supply.
- Spending on red meat continued to grow significantly during the summer months, although increased consumer prices resulted in reduced sales volumes, mainly driven by a surge in the cost of beef.
- While the ONS continues to report steady GDP growth rates, business surveys continue to point towards little or no private sector activity growth in the UK, while suggesting that higher employment costs and soft demand have led to reduced headcounts in the private sector.
- Weakness in consumer confidence continues to reflect pessimism around general economic conditions, likely influenced by the media, with a more balanced picture around personal finances.
If you have any question please contact.
MEMBER SERVICES – Bruce McCall: [email protected] 01738 637472
CRAFT SKILLS SCOTLAND – Claire Simpson: [email protected] 01738 637785
Scottish Craft Butchers
8-10 Needless Road
Perth PH2 0JW
Tel: 01738 637472
Mobile: 01738 637472
twitter.com/scocraftbutcher
facebook.com/scottishcraftbutchers/
www.craftbutchers.co.uk