Beef Market Commentary and Outlook
Finished beef prices听for 2026听have started听the year听strong. As of mid-January,听for week ending鈥�24鈥疛anuary听Scottish听R4L grades were sitting at 650p/kg/dwt听(+44p from the same week in 2025). However, finished prices have started to wane, on the back of reduced consumer demand, as consumers opt听for low value cuts and mince.听Despite processors reporting tightening cattle supplies, finished beef prices eased back throughout February.听For week ending 21听February鈥痯rices for Scottish R4L steer grades were sitting at 644p/kg/deadweight,鈥痳oughly on鈥痯ar with the same week last year.鈥疓B deadweight steers have fallen by 25p/kg in the past three months to average 636p/kg in mid-February, while liveweight finished steers have dropped slightly to 373p/kg.听GB听February 2026 slaughter data听shows听prime cattle听is听down 1.8% compared with February 2025.鈥疘n early March,听prime cattle in Scotland averaged 642p/kg deadweight at abattoirs and 378p/kg liveweight at auction marts.
尝辞辞办颈苍驳听补丑别补诲听听
At the time of writing听Scottish finished听prices are sitting around 645p/kg deadweight (R4L), with Angus sired cattle still maintaining 10p premium.听Figures from AHDB show GB deadweight prime cattle prices dropped back by听2p/kg on the week听(week ending 7 March)听to sit at 635p/kg.听Cost of living pressures continue to push consumers towards cheaper protein options, particularly chicken听with consumer demand for听beef听being听significantly reduced. Reports suggest that despite lower numbers of cattle coming forward that processors are looking to reduce prices and it is unlikely there will be a lift in beef prices soon.听听听
Store cattle
Store cattle (12 months plus)听continue to meet a buoyant demand. Towards the end of January, trade for heavy forward stores eased back听most likely linked听to听the听fall in deadweight price. However more recently despite finished prices easing back, store cattle continue to听sell well, with current values sitting around 拢120 - 拢150 a head higher than this time last year. Although store cattle prices look good听on听paper, it is worth remembering that production costs (both variable and fixed costs including finance/borrowings) have for many producers significantly increased.听
Although听cold weather鈥痑nd wet soil conditions听earlier on hampered grass growth, grass is now growing nicely and with turnout not too far away, livestock marts听anticipate听that trade for store cattle will continue to be buoyant with no signs of easing.听
Cull听cows听
Although the gap between 2025鈥痑nd 2026鈥疓B pricing has narrowed, cull cow trade鈥痳emains鈥痜irm.鈥疢ince sales are undoubtedly driving the demand for cast cows. Scottish deadweight prices听(R4L)听were sitting听at 555p/kg for week ending 31 January and have continued to trend upwards, fetching record highs for the time of the year, currently sitting favourably around 560p/kg/dwt. For week ending 7 March GB cow averages were up 31p on the same week in 2025.听听听听
Spring听bull听sales听
Cautious optimism听probably best听described听how pedigree breeders felt ahead of this year鈥檚 February Stirling听bull sales. More than 700 pedigree bulls, across nine breeds were听catalogued for sale 鈥撎齮he highest听number since 2022. Trade at the sale was undoubtedly underpinned by the exceptional听beef prices in 2025 and optimism was鈥痡ustified as鈥痵ellers鈥痺ere鈥痩argely鈥痬et鈥痺ith increased demand from鈥痗ommercial buyers with increased clearance rates and breed averages for several breeds.鈥�104 Charolais bulls sold to听average 拢11,760, with听no fewer than听41 lots hitting five-figure prices, while 106 (+12 from Feb 2025) Simmental bulls met a听92% clearance rate, with the breed averaging 拢12,294 (+拢2,462 on the year).听
In recent years,听the Angus breed has fallen behind their continental counterparts, however the movement towards easier calving and鈥痑鈥痬ore maternal native type of cow that can be extensively grazed on areas of hill using technology such as virtual fencing has led to a surge in demand听for native animals.听A new breed record and record average (+拢3,020 from last year鈥檚 sale) was achieved for the breed.听Calf registration data recently released from AHDB听highlights growth for the AA breed with registrations of Aberdeen Angus X cross calves in 2025 significantly increased with the data also highlighting significant growth for the breed in the past decade.听听听听听鈥�听
Sarah Balfour, Beef Consultant,听Sarah.Balfour@sac.co.uk听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/03/2026
