The farmer-funded English Beef & Lamb Executive (Eblex) has just returned from Algeria talking of "great potential for exports" there, and in other Arab countries, as meat consumption rises and competition from New Zealand fades.

NZ farmers have been getting out of sheep – unable to make money at the prices they had driven themselves down to and switching to new opportunities in southern-hemisphere demand for dairy products.

JP Garnier, export manager for Eblex, says British farmers have the right products to fill the gap and should notice the benefit from the throttling back of the NZ machine within a year.

Already, thanks to the weakness of the pound, they are making good headway in the Euro zone.

The optimistic mood is reflected in reports from the markets. Prices are not back to their best but are keeping hill farmers hanging on in despite uncertainty over future grant support.

Skipton Mart said its September shows and sales had been "a resounding success". Mule gimmers had sold at an average price of around £53 a head and up to £96. Fat lambs (for meat) were averaging 120-130p a liveweight kilo. Thirsk has been reporting similar prices. At Hawes Mart, chairman Andrew Pratt said 27,000 mule gimmers had averaged £59 a head over September 15-16 and a second wave, of slightly smaller animals, averaged £44.25 on Monday and Tuesday this week.

Pateley Bridge Mart reported £120 for last Saturday's best mule gimmers, out of more than 2,000 put forward, and up to £86 for Masham lambs.

The regional livestock board of the NFU has organised Eblex economist Mark Topliffe and auctioneer Stephen Aitken, from Darlington Mart, to talk about red meat prospects at Darlington Rugby Club from 7.30pm on Thursday.



Masham Sheep Fair results:

SATURDAY

Supreme Champion (Texel) - KO and EA Stones, Marrick, Richmond; Reserve (Cross-Bred) - J North, Sykehouse, Goole. Supreme Champion Group (Three Texel) - KO and EA Stones; Reserve (Three Suffolk) - G Riby, Fraisthorpe, Bridlington. Pen of Fat Lambs - B and M Watkinson, Sessay, Thirsk. Best Commercial Fleece - Y Mudd, Thistle Hill, Knaresborough; Reserve - RJ and J Richardson, Leven, Beverley. Most points in show - M and B Allen, Staithes. Local exhibitor with most points - D and GC Newbould, Dallowgill, Ripon.

Other champions: Masham - M and B Allen. Mule - M and B Allen. Mule Gimmer Lamb - M and B Allen. Swaledale - John Dixon and Sons, Stainton, Richmond. Dalesbred - JM Wilson, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate. Blue-Faced Leicester - A Fisher, Pateley Bridge. Teeswater - Mrs EM Nicholson, Kirkby Malzeard, Ripon. Jacob - Howard Walsh, Thornley, Preston. Wensleydale - J Prescott, Longhorsley, Northumberland. Texel - KO and EA Stones. Suffolk - Mr and Mrs L Peel, Over Silton, Thirsk.

Oxford Down - RJ and J Richardson. Cross-Bred - J North, Sykehouse, Goole. Native Breed (Suffolk) - Mr and Mrs L Peel. Hill Breed (Dalesbred) – JM Wilson.



SUNDAY

Supreme Champion (Charollais) - Kenton Foster, Leyburn; Reserve (North Country Cheviot) - KO & EA Stones. Champion Group of Three (Charollais) - Kenton Foster. Pen of Fat Lambs - AC & SA Hutchinson. Best Commercial Fleece - MJ & LC Lund, Lancaster. Most points in show - AC & L Bailey, Leyburn.

Other champions: North Country Cheviot - KO & EA Stones. Beltex - AC & SA Hutchinson. Bleu du Maine - TS & EJ Goldie, Maunby, Thirsk. Charollais - Kenton Foster. Dorset Horn or Polled Dorset - A & S Addyman, Pateley Bridge. Any Other Pure Breed Accredited - AC & L Bailey, Leyburn. Any Other Pure Breed Non Accredited - J Prescott, Longhorsley, Northumberland. Ryeland - AW Pink, Nether Poppleton, York.

Hampshire Down - AW Pink. Native Breed (North Country Cheviot) - KO & EA Stones.