UK sheep prices rocket in Ramadan surge

Lamb is often the meat of choice in the holy month

British lamb prices have rocketed as Ramadan begins. Courtesy Dusit Thani

Prices of British ewes have rocketed by 17 per cent since the same time last year as farmers see a surge in demand due to Ramadan.

The UK's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has been monitoring the prices of sheep, which have continued to soar since the start of the year.

Rebecca Wright, a senior red meat analyst at the AHDB, told The National prices could continue to rise over the next few weeks.

"Ewe prices are 17 per cent above year-earlier levels at around £105 per head," she said.

"Prices tend to peak around Easter as UK supply is lowest, as it is when lambs are being born. It is equally when demand peaks and especially this year with Ramadan falling at a similar time to Easter.

"Demand for ewes always increases in the run up to any Islamic festival as consumption demand rises as social gatherings take place.

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  Egyptian craftsmen produce Ramadan lanterns, called fanous, at a workshop in Cairo. EPA

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  An activist of the Al Khidmat Foundation Pakistan, a non-profit organisation, packs iftar food to be sent to Afghanistan, in Peshawar, in preparation for the start of Ramadan. AFP

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  Youths hold torches at a parade to welcome the holy month in Jakarta, Indonesia. EPA

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  Palestinian volunteers clean the Al-Aqsa compound, in front of the Dome of Rock Mosque in Jerusalem's Old City. AP

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  Palestinians shop for traditional 'fanous', a decoration used to celebrate the start of Ramadan, in Hebron in the occupied West Bank. AFP

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  A Quran reading at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. EPA

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  A man cleans a mosque in the run-up to Ramadan in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA

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  A vendor sells dates in Peshawar. EPA

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  A Palestinian man tries to attract custom for his fanous in Jerusalem. AFP

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  A Palestinian craftsman works on a section of an Islamic-style monument that consists of lantern and a crescent, two symbols of the Islamic holy month, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. AP

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  Palestinians shop at Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city in preparation for Ramadan. AFP

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  Shopping for decorations in Al-Zawya old market in Gaza city, in preparation for Ramadan. AFP

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  A woman buys a Ramadan decoration in Beirut. EPA

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  A shopkeeper sells prayer mats in Peshawar. EPA

"Prices have been increasing in recent years driven by tightening global supplies of lamb and mutton and increasing demand in Asia, which has attracted New Zealand products away from the European market."

Ms Wright says lamb features heavily in the Iftar feasts.

"Lamb and mutton feature heavily," she said.

"Sheep meat is typically used in kebabs and curries."

She said prices are typically lowest in the autumn when supply is at its highest.

Last autumn prices were 40 per cent lower at £70 per head.