Sheep prices: steady with signs of more life

The sheep trade seems to have steadied after weeks of downward price pressure.

Quotes remain unchanged, with Kepak Athleague top of the export plants on a base of €4.65/kg plus a 5c/kg quality assurance (QA) top-up.

Kildare’s quote is similar, with a base of €4.60/kg plus their 10c/kg QA top-up.

Moyvalley and Ballon Meats’ all-in quotes are also unchanged at €4.70/kg and €4.60/kg respectively, while ICM is offering a base of €4.50/kg, with Dawn Meats not quoting again.

There are very little lambs moving at these quotes, with the majority of lambs traded from individual sellers moving at €4.70/kg to €4.75/kg.

There has been signs of more life slowly entering the trade, with some sellers securing €4.80/kg, while producer groups are achieving prices of €4.80/kg to €4.85/kg, with prices rising 5c/kg above this or slightly higher when allowances on transport costs are taken into account.

The trade in Northern Ireland has eased, with quotes for this week reducing 5p/kg to £3.75/kg.

Sterling continues to slowly regain ground against the euro and, at Wednesday’s exchange rate of 87.5p to the euro, this equates to €4.51/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Finishers with higher numbers are still, in cases, securing £3.80/kg (€4.57/kg).

The number of sheep coming south for direct slaughter reduced marginally by 387 head to 9,068, remaining an important contributor to throughput in southern plants.

The British price fell by 15p/kg last week, with the Livestock Meat Commission reporting an average price for the week ending 23 September of £3.86/kg (€4.65/kg).

Reports suggest there has been some recovery in the trade this week, with prices rising 5p/kg.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is unchanged on quotes of €2.40/kg, with the exception of Ballon Meats which continues to top the table at €2.60/kg.

Regular sellers and those handling higher numbers are achieving prices of €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg, with firm demand for light ewes in the west.

Irish Country Meats is reintroducing clipping charges of 20c/head, with some farmers raising concern about the earlier introduction date.

IFA sheep chair John Lynskey said: “We have met with ICM and have made it very clear that we do not want a clipping charge on all sheep.

“It is unfair and counterproductive and a blanket charge across all sheep will not help presentation.

“The IFA has worked with the Department and Teagasc on the clean sheep policy and this charge does not help in trying to get everyone involved in the industry to support the initiative.”

Read more

Factory throughput up 188,000 head in 2017

Prices up 10p since August 2016