Prices start to edge up as lamb exports resume; Farm & Country.

Byline: Andrew Forgrave Rural Affairs Editor

SHEEP farmers can expect a partial recovery in lamb prices now that export markets have been re-opened for parts of Wales and England.

Prices have already begun edging upwards and industry pundits are confident the trend will continue towards Christmas and the New Year.

"Before February, lamb prices were at a fouryear high for that time of year because continental consumers were switching from beef to lamb in the wake of BSE scares, " said Mike Gooding, group marketing director for export co-operative Farmers First.

"We know demand is there because our customers in Europe are screaming for British lamb.

"Prices per animal in France are averaging pounds 86 whereas here they are pounds 27-pounds 30, so I would expect there to be a levelling out between the two countries once exports resume."

Some even question whether UK supplies will be able to meet the pounds 100m-a-year continental and domestic markets.

There are few reliable indicators of current lamb availability, although many suspect it is low, with culls, increased domestic lamb consumption and a switch towards breeding stock accounting for many.

Farmers from North Wales, except Anglesey, will gear up for the export challenge from November 15 - or soon after - with other UK counties joining up 90 days after their last case of FMD.

Exporters are now urgently seeking clarification whether lamb from disease-free areas can be traded after processing at abattoirs in counties which have had cases of FMD.

Don Thomas, managing director of Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions, said it was essential the reputation of Welsh Lamb in target European markets was re-established. "To achieve this will need a concerted effort from the entire industry in Wales, " he said.

"The implementation of this decision will now be swift, which means that WLBP Ltd will be able to get Welsh lamb to their export customer bases very soon.

"This will no doubt please our export customers who, at last month's International Food & Drink Exhibition, ANUGA in Germany, were demanding the re-supply of Welsh lamb."

In Italy, Welsh lamb is marketed under the Agnello da Pascolo, qualita Naturale label; in France it comes under the Agneau Gallois and Pre Sale Agneau Gallois labels; in Spain it is branded Corderos Gales . Branded Welsh lamb is also exported to Greece and the Netherlands.

FARMERS and auctioneers will gather outside the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff today to protest at the continued closure of livestock markets.

A petition demanding Assembly support for the re-opening of the markets has gathered 5,000 names - 3,000 from North Wales - in just five days.

Meanwhile Prof David King, the Government's chief scientific adviser, yesterday insisted the slaughter of healthy animals on neighbouring farms was the price that had to be paid for eradicating foot-and-mouth.

Farms bordering those with foot-and-mouth had a 17pc chance of the disease developing in their animals, he told the Commons Select committee on the environment, food and agriculture.