[Innes Rothach – Preseantair] Tha e coimhead coltach gum bi prìs nan uan mòran nas ìsle am-bliadhna agus sin gun a bhith toirt cunntas air buaidh na droch shìde air fallaineachd nam beathaichean. Tha uain gan reic an-dràsta aig prìs a tha £10 nas ìsle na bha e an-uiridh agus ged a tha ùine ann fhathast mus tèid uain bho taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan an reic, ‘s e droch shamhla a th’ann do chroitearan, mar a tha Murray MacLeòid ag aithris.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan ann furasta a tha e air a bhith dhaibhsan a tha an urra ri obair fearainn agus an aimsir air a bhith cho fliuch is fuar, co-dhiù gu seo. Ach tha tuilleadh a-nis mu choinneamh chroitearan agus thuathanaich. Sin gu bheil prìs nan uan air tuiteam.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Tha coltas glè mhath air an stoc seo dh’fheumar a ràdh agus tha mìos no dhà ann fhathast mus bi a’ mhòr-chuid de dh’uain bhon taobh an iar gan reic. Ach a thaobh prìsean, chan eil iad a’ coimhead gu math an-dràsta. Tha iad sìos grunnan notaichean gach beathach. As dèidh na droch shìde a tha air a bhith ann, chan e sin an seòrsa naidheachd a bha croitearan airson cluinntinn.
[Dòmhnall MacLeòid] Uill mar a tha cùisean a’ coimhead an-dràsta tha prìs nan uan air ais glè mhòr mun t-sìde-sa an-uiridh. Ach feumaidh mi ràdh gur e an t-uan reamhar a chaidh a bhreith tràth anns a’ bhliadhna tha sin agus tha e duilich fhathast, tha caran tràth anns a’ bhliadhna beachd a thoirt air dè mar a bhios cùisean nuair a thig an t-am airson reic ann an seo, cho fad ‘s nach bi sinn a’ reic uain a bhios gan cumail nas fhaide.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Cha shaoileadh tu gum biodh cus buaidh aig cùisean mòra an t-saoghail air luach a’ bheathaich seo. Ach, tha agus gu mòr. Tha mòran de dh’ uain na h-Alba gan reic chun na Roinn Eòrpa agus tha an Euro an-dràsta gu math ìosal. Cuideachd, chan eil An Ruis no Sìona a’ ceannach faisg uimhir de chraiceann ‘s a b’ àbhaist - an dà margaidh mhòr a bha air fhàgail. Uile gu lèir, tha e ciallachadh nach eil faisg uimhir a luach aig a’ bheathach seo ‘s a bhithear an dòchas.
[Alec Dòmhnallach] Buille mhòr, mhòr a th’ann, tha e gus a h-uile duine a bhualadh. Chan e mhàin sin ach tha barrachd cosgais air a bhith oirnn am-bliadhna seach bliadhna sam bith eile leis cho fuar ‘s a tha i air a bhith agus mar a thuirt sinn, air beathachadh chun an ama seo fhèin eadar, tha mi creidsinn gum bi - a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn ‘s dòcha £20 a-mach à pòcaid gach beathaich.
[Dòmhnall MacLeòid] Mar a tha a’ mhargaidh an-dràsta sin mar a thuirt mi, na h-uain reamhar a chaidh a bhreith tràth bha sinn a’ coimhead air tighinn air a’ mhargaidh agus tha sin air ais, bhon t-seachdain a chaidh bha iad air ais timcheall air 20sg an kilo, can bho ochd gu deich notaichean an t-uan ‘s bha tòrr an sin. Ach dh’fhaodadh sin atharrachadh mar a bhios a’ bhliadhna dol air adhart. Tha cuideachd fathann a’ dol nach eil an uiread de dh’uain air a’ bhliadhna agus ‘s mathaid le sin gum bi, gun tog sin a’ phrìs beagan nas àirde. Ach chan eil mi cinnteach gum bu chòir dhuinn a bhith buileach dubhach fhathast. ‘S ann nuair a chì sinn na fèilltean suas gu tuath, nuair a thèid na h-uain sin air a’ mhargaidh bheir sin beachd math dhuinn air dè mar a tha a’ mhargaidh a’ dol a dhèiligeadh ris na h-uain a bhios air an cumail nas fhaide air a’ bhliadhna.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] ‘S e bliadhna dhuilich a tha air a bhith ann dha croitearan agus tha iad a-nise coimhead ris an fhoghar agus an stoc aca a reic. Dh’ fhaodadh cùisean atharrachadh, ach tha e coimhead coltach gum bi prìsean sìos agus gu deimhinne, chan e sin a bha a dhìth. Murray MacLeòid, BBC An Là.
[Innes Munro – Presenter] It looks likely lamb prices will be considerably lower this year and that’s without taking into account the effect the bad weather has had on the animals’ health. Lambs are currently being sold £10 cheaper than last year and although there is a while yet before lambs from the west of the Highlands and Islands are sold, this is a bad sign for crofters, as Murray MacLeod reports.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] It’s not been easy for those in agriculture with the weather having been so wet and cold, up until now at least. But more now faces crofters and farmers. That is, that the price of lamb has fallen.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] This livestock looks good it must be said and there’s a month or two yet until most of the lambs from the west will be sold. With regards to prices however, things don’t look too good at the moment. They are down significantly per beast. After the bad weather, this isn’t the news crofters wanted to hear.
[Donald MacLeod] Well as things currently look, the price of lamb is down quite a bit from this time last year. But I have to say, that’s the larger ones that were born earlier in the year but it’s too early in the year yet to say what the situation will be once the time comes to sell.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] You wouldn’t expect worldwide issues to have much of an effect on the value of this animal. But it does, greatly. Many Scottish lambs are sold in Europe and the value of the Euro at the moment is quite low. Also, neither Russia nor China have been buying quite as much fleece as they would normally – the two big markets that were left. All in all, it means that the value of this animal isn’t as much as you would hope.
[Alec MacDonald] It’s a big, big blow and it’s going to hit everyone. Not only that, we have been faced with bigger costs this year than in previous years with how cold it’s been and as we said, with feeding, so I reckon we’re talking perhaps about being £20 out of pocket per animal.
[Donald MacLeod] With how the current market stands, as I said previously, it’s the larger ones coming onto the market that were born earlier in the year and the price is down around 20p per kilo on last week from £8-10 per lamb, which is a considerable amount. But that could change later in the year. There’s also a rumour that there isn’t as many lambs on the market and perhaps with that, the price will rise a little higher. But I don’t think we should be too gloomy yet. It’s when the lambs in the markets up North get sold that we’ll have a better indication of the price of the older lambs.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] It’s been a tough year for crofters and they are now looking to sell their stock in Autumn. Things could change, but it looks likely that prices will be down and certainly, that wasn’t needed. Murray MacLeod, BBC An Là.
[Innes Rothach – Preseantair] Tha e coimhead coltach gum bi prìs nan uan mòran nas ìsle am-bliadhna agus sin gun a bhith toirt cunntas air buaidh na droch shìde air fallaineachd nam beathaichean. Tha uain gan reic an-dràsta aig prìs a tha £10 nas ìsle na bha e an-uiridh agus ged a tha ùine ann fhathast mus tèid uain bho taobh siar na Gàidhealtachd agus na h-Eileanan an reic, ‘s e droch shamhla a th’ann do chroitearan, mar a tha Murray MacLeòid ag aithris.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Chan ann furasta a tha e air a bhith dhaibhsan a tha an urra ri obair fearainn agus an aimsir air a bhith cho fliuch is fuar, co-dhiù gu seo. Ach tha tuilleadh a-nis mu choinneamh chroitearan agus thuathanaich. Sin gu bheil prìs nan uan air tuiteam.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Tha coltas glè mhath air an stoc seo dh’fheumar a ràdh agus tha mìos no dhà ann fhathast mus bi a’ mhòr-chuid de dh’uain bhon taobh an iar gan reic. Ach a thaobh prìsean, chan eil iad a’ coimhead gu math an-dràsta. Tha iad sìos grunnan notaichean gach beathach. As dèidh na droch shìde a tha air a bhith ann, chan e sin an seòrsa naidheachd a bha croitearan airson cluinntinn.
[Dòmhnall MacLeòid] Uill mar a tha cùisean a’ coimhead an-dràsta tha prìs nan uan air ais glè mhòr mun t-sìde-sa an-uiridh. Ach feumaidh mi ràdh gur e an t-uan reamhar a chaidh a bhreith tràth anns a’ bhliadhna tha sin agus tha e duilich fhathast, tha caran tràth anns a’ bhliadhna beachd a thoirt air dè mar a bhios cùisean nuair a thig an t-am airson reic ann an seo, cho fad ‘s nach bi sinn a’ reic uain a bhios gan cumail nas fhaide.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] Cha shaoileadh tu gum biodh cus buaidh aig cùisean mòra an t-saoghail air luach a’ bheathaich seo. Ach, tha agus gu mòr. Tha mòran de dh’ uain na h-Alba gan reic chun na Roinn Eòrpa agus tha an Euro an-dràsta gu math ìosal. Cuideachd, chan eil An Ruis no Sìona a’ ceannach faisg uimhir de chraiceann ‘s a b’ àbhaist - an dà margaidh mhòr a bha air fhàgail. Uile gu lèir, tha e ciallachadh nach eil faisg uimhir a luach aig a’ bheathach seo ‘s a bhithear an dòchas.
[Alec Dòmhnallach] Buille mhòr, mhòr a th’ann, tha e gus a h-uile duine a bhualadh. Chan e mhàin sin ach tha barrachd cosgais air a bhith oirnn am-bliadhna seach bliadhna sam bith eile leis cho fuar ‘s a tha i air a bhith agus mar a thuirt sinn, air beathachadh chun an ama seo fhèin eadar, tha mi creidsinn gum bi - a’ bruidhinn mu dheidhinn ‘s dòcha £20 a-mach à pòcaid gach beathaich.
[Dòmhnall MacLeòid] Mar a tha a’ mhargaidh an-dràsta sin mar a thuirt mi, na h-uain reamhar a chaidh a bhreith tràth bha sinn a’ coimhead air tighinn air a’ mhargaidh agus tha sin air ais, bhon t-seachdain a chaidh bha iad air ais timcheall air 20sg an kilo, can bho ochd gu deich notaichean an t-uan ‘s bha tòrr an sin. Ach dh’fhaodadh sin atharrachadh mar a bhios a’ bhliadhna dol air adhart. Tha cuideachd fathann a’ dol nach eil an uiread de dh’uain air a’ bhliadhna agus ‘s mathaid le sin gum bi, gun tog sin a’ phrìs beagan nas àirde. Ach chan eil mi cinnteach gum bu chòir dhuinn a bhith buileach dubhach fhathast. ‘S ann nuair a chì sinn na fèilltean suas gu tuath, nuair a thèid na h-uain sin air a’ mhargaidh bheir sin beachd math dhuinn air dè mar a tha a’ mhargaidh a’ dol a dhèiligeadh ris na h-uain a bhios air an cumail nas fhaide air a’ bhliadhna.
[Murray MacLeòid – Neach-aithris] ‘S e bliadhna dhuilich a tha air a bhith ann dha croitearan agus tha iad a-nise coimhead ris an fhoghar agus an stoc aca a reic. Dh’ fhaodadh cùisean atharrachadh, ach tha e coimhead coltach gum bi prìsean sìos agus gu deimhinne, chan e sin a bha a dhìth. Murray MacLeòid, BBC An Là.
[Innes Munro – Presenter] It looks likely lamb prices will be considerably lower this year and that’s without taking into account the effect the bad weather has had on the animals’ health. Lambs are currently being sold £10 cheaper than last year and although there is a while yet before lambs from the west of the Highlands and Islands are sold, this is a bad sign for crofters, as Murray MacLeod reports.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] It’s not been easy for those in agriculture with the weather having been so wet and cold, up until now at least. But more now faces crofters and farmers. That is, that the price of lamb has fallen.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] This livestock looks good it must be said and there’s a month or two yet until most of the lambs from the west will be sold. With regards to prices however, things don’t look too good at the moment. They are down significantly per beast. After the bad weather, this isn’t the news crofters wanted to hear.
[Donald MacLeod] Well as things currently look, the price of lamb is down quite a bit from this time last year. But I have to say, that’s the larger ones that were born earlier in the year but it’s too early in the year yet to say what the situation will be once the time comes to sell.
[Murray MacLeod - Reporter] You wouldn’t expect worldwide issues to have much of an effect on the value of this animal. But it does, greatly. Many Scottish lambs are sold in Europe and the value of the Euro at the moment is quite low. Also, neither Russia nor China have been buying quite as much fleece as they would normally – the two big markets that were left. All in all, it means that the value of this animal isn’t as much as you would hope.
[Alec MacDonald] It’s a big, big blow and it’s going to hit everyone. Not only that, we have been faced with bigger costs this year than in previous years with how cold it’s been and as we said, with feeding, so I reckon we’re talking perhaps about being £20 out of pocket per animal.
[Donald MacLeod] With how the current market stands, as I said previously, it’s the larger ones coming onto the market that were born earlier in the year and the price is down around 20p per kilo on last week from £8-10 per lamb, which is a considerable amount. But that could change later in the year. There’s also a rumour that there isn’t as many lambs on the market and perhaps with that, the price will rise a little higher. But I don’t think we should be too gloomy yet. It’s when the lambs in the markets up North get sold that we’ll have a better indication of the price of the older lambs.
[Murray MacLeod – Reporter] It’s been a tough year for crofters and they are now looking to sell their stock in Autumn. Things could change, but it looks likely that prices will be down and certainly, that wasn’t needed. Murray MacLeod, BBC An Là.