Factories have moved this week to close the gap between live and dead prices, with base quotes for Thursday 60c/kg higher than last week.

Reports had indicated that a growing number of sellers were frustrated by the offer of lower quotes relative to the mart trade and were opting to market lambs live.

This also includes producer groups that were not willing to move at the lower offering.

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This week’s movement in price has given agents much more purchasing power, with the top price for hoggets now at €9/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants are quoting a base of €8.60/kg plus the 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, while Dawn Kildare is offering €8.60/kg plus 10c/kg QA. Ballon Meats is offering an opening price of €8.60/kg.

Producer groups are now trading from €8.80/kg to €8.95/kg, with some deals at €8.90/kg plus allowances or full coverage of transport costs.

Plants are holding firm on carcase weight at 23kg, with only an odd report of an extra half a kilo being offered.

The tightness in supply is reflected in last week’s sheep kill falling by over 1,000 head to 38,902, despite the higher prices on offer.

This also included a higher ewe kill of 4,885 head, with factories keen to handle higher numbers.

The trade this week was boosted by the Islamic religious festival of Ramadan, but reports indicate demand is also well up in export markets, regardless of the festival.

Factories were also much more active in securing sales in Northern Ireland, with the latest Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs data showing numbers imported for direct slaughter increasing by over 1,600 head and topping 5,200.

Numbers exported live for direct slaughter in Britain were 300 head lower at 2,423.

Factories in Northern Ireland are trying to retain higher numbers for slaughter and have also increased quotes by 40p/kg to 50p/kg.

Base quotes for Thursday are £7.90/kg to £8/kg, meaning prices at the equivalent of €9.11/kg to €9.23/kg remain ahead of Ireland.

Regular sellers are trading above the £8/kg mark this week, while prices in Britain also continue to drive upwards, with returns upwards of £8.50/kg to £8.60/kg.

Spring lambs

ICM is the first plant to quote for spring lambs and are offering a base of €9.60/kg plus 20c/kg QA payment. This is to a carcase weight of 20kg.

The plant is also interested in milk lambs and is looking to source lambs killing at 10kg to 13kg carcase weight.

Kepak is also active for similar lambs, with an appetite for 10kg to 14kg carcase weight.

Ewe quotes have increased by 20c/kg to 50c/kg, with ICM rising from €4.50/kg to join Ballon Meats on €5/kg. The live trade has moved upwards significantly and sellers should weigh up the most lucrative outlet.