FOLLOWING the good weather conditions of last summer, EBLEX has warned sheep producers against letting lambs get over fat.

Since the turn of the year (up to February 1), seven per cent fewer lambs were sold through UK auction markets compared with year-earlier levels.

This reflects a broader trend, as estimated slaughterings in the first four weeks of 2014 were down five per cent on the previous year.

However, the proportion of animals falling into the two heaviest weight bands (45.6 kilograms and over) increased by eight per cent on the previous year, although it should be noted that last year’s conditions meant lambs were particularly slow to finish