Prices are holding firm in the factories for lambs. In general, farmers are securing €4.70/kg to €4.75/kg. Some farmers with big numbers of lamb and producer groups are negotiating €4.80/kg, with €4.85/kg more difficult to secure. Non-quality assured (QA) lambs are being quoted an all-in price of €4.70/kg as factories start to focus more on the domestic market where QA becomes more important.
Prices are holding firm in the factories for lambs. In general, farmers are securing €4.70/kg to €4.75/kg. Some farmers with big numbers of lamb and producer groups are negotiating €4.80/kg, with €4.85/kg more difficult to secure.
Non-quality assured (QA) lambs are being quoted an all-in price of €4.70/kg as factories start to focus more on the domestic market where QA becomes more important.
Ballon Meats leads this week with an all-in quote of €4.70/kg. This is followed by Kepak Athleague which held its quote at €4.65/kg excluding bonuses. Both Kildare Chilling and Irish Country Meats increased quotes this week by 5c/kg at quotes of €4.60/kg and €4.55/kg respectively, but they are still lagging behind the rest.
Supply remains stable with a total of 48,431 head of lamb killed last week. This number is up 2,784 compared with the same period last year, but the increase is mainly made up of over 10,000 lambs being imported from the north for direct slaughter.
Domestic supplies are tight, but the importation of northern lambs is plugging the gap.
Mart managers are reporting a greater presence of factory agents in sales who are very keen for factory-fit lambs.
With the dry weather over the past week, farmers are not under as much pressure to move lambs on. However, they should not become complacent because it is an expensive time to feed lambs and once they hit adequate slaughter weight they should be drafted for the factory.
IFA national sheep committee chair John Lynskey said there is a strong steady trade for lambs at the factories, with prices of €4.80/kg to a tops of €4.85/kg being paid. He said weights have also moved up, with payments up to 23kg. He said some factories are anxious for ewes with prices.
Ewe trade
The ewe trade remains unchanged. General prices paid are €2.45/kg to €2.50/kg, with agents securing marginally higher as demonstrated by purchasing power in mart sales. Light carcase ewes are selling from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg in the west.
Northern Ireland
Agents purchasing for southern plants remain very active in the North. The number of lambs coming south for direct slaughter was steady at 10,491 last week. Reports suggest competition for lambs is pushing prices to €4.80/kg to €4.85/kg to agents handling large numbers, with allowances also being given in cases to 23kg carcase weight.
The northern kill is also steady at 10,134 lambs and 841 ewes and rams. Quotes are unchanged at £3.80/kg, the equivalent of €4.70/kg including VAT, with regular sellers continuing to attract 5p/kg higher.
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Lamb prices hold steady in the marts
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