High lamb prices conceal a changing supply structure

The sheep market in Occitanie shows why a high quotation should not be mistaken for a comfortable supply situation. France’s regional agricultural authority reported on 12 November that total sheep slaughter volume rose 1.9% in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Lamb slaughter was stable, while cull-sheep slaughter rose by 11.4%.