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One of the main issues continues to be lamb quality and cover.
Where lambs are well covered, they are fetching higher prices, but there continues to be a good share of under-fleshed lambs coming through the system.
This, combined with lamb price pressure, is resulting in a further slip in the price paid.
Heavy butchers lambs have seen prices ease by another €3 to €4/head. Those over 50kg are selling mainly from €96 to €104, with top-quality types making over €108/head.
There are reports of prices under €90/head in some areas also. Lambs from 45kg to 48kg are selling mainly from €87 to €95/head, down by about €2/head on last week.
Store lamb demand is strong and that has resulted in prices holding firm or increasing slightly in some cases. Poor weather and surplus of grass in many areas are the main drivers as farmers opt to source store lambs to utilise grass over the winter months.
Light hill lambs continue to be the weakest trade, but heavier lowland types are firm. Lambs from 37kg to 42kg are selling mainly from €75 to €85/head, with lighter types from 34kg to 37kg selling mainly from €64 to €70/head.
Light hill lambs are making from €1.20/kg for plain types to €1.40/kg, with slightly better-quality and heavier types making from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg for heavier wether lambs.
Cull ewes have slipped a little also, but there are still plenty of buyers.
Prices are ranging mainly from €50 to €70/head for average-quality and light types, with better-quality and heavy types making from €80 to €100 at the top of the market.
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