Pollock is extremely short in fresh & frozen worldwide. Landings have been hugely down. Frozen stocks are hand to mouth and have been for some time.

Estimated prime cattle slaughter at GB abattoirs was 30,200 head for the week, 5% lower than the week before and 2% lower than the same week a year ago.

Cow prices also experienced a decline, with the overall average slipping 6.2p to 273.2p/kg. Animal’s meeting -O4L spec fell 7.2p to average 294.7p/kg. Despite the price softening, the overall average was still 33.2p above the same week a year ago, and 46.2p above the five-year average.

Prices look likely to remain firm with increases as demand firms up.

Over the past two weeks lamb prices have ticked up and there are tentative signs in auction market throughputs this week that this may have finally pulled some supplies forwards. Through the past few months, auction market throughputs have been significantly below expectations, even if we allowed for a smaller lamb crop. In the week ending 6 October, 115,300 lambs came forwards, up 11% on the previous week and just 3% below year-earlier levels. In recent months, throughputs have been down by as much as a quarter in some weeks.

During the week ended 6 October, the GB liveweight NSL SQQ gained almost 8p, to stand at 235.21p/kg. The quote now stands at 38p above year-earlier levels. In the week ended 2 October, the GB deadweight NSL SQQ increased 8.3p, to 502.3p/kg.

Looking forwards to lamb supply for Christmas, calculations suggest there will be British lambs available for slaughter. However, there is likely to be tightness in the market due to a lack of New Zealand lamb. Usually, New Zealand would expect six or seven ships to dock in New Zealand to deliver lamb to the UK (via Asia) in time for the Christmas chilled market. In 2021, just three ships are expected, including one that will not reach the UK until days before Christmas. This is due to ongoing difficulty in the shipping sector caused by Covid-19.

Estimated slaughter is around 8 million which is 11% down on 2020 numbers, Deadweight lamb prices in Australia and New Zealand are around 30% higher than a year ago and are continuing to rise.

With low UK Numbers and lack of supply from New Zealand and Australia, lamb prices will continue to rise as with the beef sector labour shortages at processors, transport and fuel are having an impact on pricing.

Pork pricing remains relatively unchanged despite some lower market costs, labour shortages are a major concern with pigs backlogged, this is a challenging time for the industry.

Average prices fell last week, the measure was likely influenced by some particularly low prices paid by abattoirs for batches of pigs outside contracts, as the market finds an outlet for some pigs killed with only minimal butchery. This could be the case for several weeks to come, depending on how long there is a backlog of pigs on farms.

Reports suggest that 150,000 pigs are backed up and reports that some farms will have to cull some pigs.

Slaughter at GB abattoirs was estimated to be 194,700 head during the week, 7.5% higher than the week before and 11% above the same week a year ago. This is the third-highest weekly kill of the year. Bear in mind that these are estimates, the accuracy of which can be affected by unusual circumstances.

Carcase weights averaged 90.93 kg, 700 g heavier than even last week and more than 4 kg heavier than the same week in 2020.

The pork sector is having some serious issues, a quote from AHDB “We are working with industry and the Government to address the challenges facing the pork sector.”

Chairman of the AHDB Pork Board, Mike Sheldon, said: “With the unprecedented challenges being placed on the pork sector, AHDB is working with industry and the Government to identify ways in which we can all help levy payers during these difficult times.

“These challenges, in particular a shortage of skilled workers, come on top of pressure on margins largely due to rising feed costs.

“These issues are extremely concerning and therefore require industry-wide action to prevent the situation from deteriorating into an animal welfare issue.

“AHDB is already undertaking work to help the sector, including providing independent evidence to the Government setting out the seriousness of the situation and looking at how together we can support meat processors to ease the supply of labour.

“As well, AHDB’s wider approach has resulted in the AHDB Pork Board agreeing to a one-month levy holiday to help ease the burden of the financial pressures faced by levy payers. AHDB has asked for Ministerial approval for this step.”

UK Chicken market is still experiencing issues with shortages on all products, processors are having to short customers so all customers can have some product.

Labour shortages are the main problem in this sector and until the labour issues are addressed then we could expect some more disruption.

European Chicken has been stable for a while now and looks set to remain so.

A small rise in turkey products is to be expected.

Fewer turkeys were put on the ground in the UK for Christmas with labour issues in mind so there will be fewer UK product.

With shortages of UK product forecast for Christmas European product should be able to fill any gaps that we may experience.