English sheep farmers are being urged to ensure they finish lambs at the right time to meet target specification.
An increase in over-finished lambs in recent weeks has raised concern within the industry and AHDB Beef & Lamb is keen for farmers to be mindful of the effects this can have.
Steve Powdrill, Technical Manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb, said: "The issue has arisen following a spell of poorer quality grass, which in general has meant that farmers have been opting for supplementary finishing or dry feed.
"As a result, lambs can finish and change very quickly. To this end, we have seen an increase in over-fat lambs in both livestock markets and abattoirs.
"Over-finished lambs produce a fatty product, which has a negative effect on consumer perception. It’s important we maintain the quality of home-grown lamb, so we’re looking for our farmers to be more vigilant when finishing and selecting stock for slaughter.
"This requires frequent, careful handling of the lambs to ensure each animal has reached its full potential and target specification."
English sheep farmers currently market around 8.5 million sheep a year, producing 175,000 tonnes of sheep meat for domestic consumption and export.
