The factory lamb trade is steady, with all of the main exporting plants remaining on a base quote of €4.70/kg. General prices paid are well above these levels, with €4.85/kg to €4.95/kg easily negotiated by all sellers, even with small numbers.

Agents are responding to tighter numbers and strong factory demand and are paying €4.95/kg to €5/kg in much greater frequency for quality assured lamb. Regular sellers and those with large numbers or top-quality lambs are securing €5.05/kg at the top of the market. There are also reports of €5.10/kg being paid, but this is to select sellers with factories reluctant to move above €5.05/kg and more amenable to giving allowances on weight.

Most sellers at this stage are being paid to 23kg carcase weight. The exception to this is sellers still on a base of 22.5kg, but being paid at the higher end of the market. Wholesale buyers have, in some cases, paid up to 24kg carcase weight at €5.00/kg to €5.05/kg to entice sellers away from factory deals.

Most lambs are trading in northern plants at a base of £3.75/kg (€4.96/kg including VAT) with large numbers moving at £3.80/kg (€5.02/kg including VAT) or higher.

With supplies tight, agents for southern plants are competing harder to secure deals. When transport is taken into account, many northern lambs are costing €5.05/kg to €5.15/kg or higher.

The number of sheep imported for direct slaughter last week was steady at 8,821 head, over 1,300 behind the same week in 2013.

Southern plants are anxious to maintain this source of throughput to try to compensate for falling numbers and also to allow them to maintain price as is in their main catchment areas.

According to Eblex, British lambs are trading at an average of £3.85/kg (€5.10/kg). Similar to Ireland, GB sheep throughput has fallen in recent weeks, with throughput for the week ending 15 November recorded slightly below 2013 levels, at 273,000 head. Lamb supplies are also forecast to remain relatively tight following the very high weekly kills recorded from June to September.

Ewe trade: Ewe numbers are tight, but factories are reluctant to move on price. Heavy carcase ewes are selling from €2.70/kg to €3/kg, with light-carcase ewes selling to €3.30/kg. Some sellers with small numbers are opting for the live trade, with agents purchasing in marts paying from €90 to €115 for heavy ewes and €60 to €80 for fleshed, light ewes.

Live exports: After figures of 27,456 during September, live exports during October fell sharply to 3,796. This included 1,697 lambs exported by plane to Singapore, 693 sheep to Belgium, 675 to France, 425 to Germany and 280 sheep to Italy. Exports during November are reported as very quiet following the Eid Al-Adha festival.