Positive sales of lamb over the Easter period is driving demand and a keen appetite from factories aiming to replenish supplies.
Agents were active in mart sales over the Easter period and have in cases stepped up purchasing activity this week.
This has held a strong floor under the trade, with base quotes unchanged.
The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan continue to quote a base of €8.80/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.
Dawn Kildare is similar on a base of €8.90/kg plus 10c/kg QA, while Ballon Meats is quoting €8.80/kg all in.
Regular sellers and groups are trading in the region of €9.10/kg, while prices at the upper end of the market are in the region of €9.20/kg to €9.25/kg.
Reports indicate that sellers handling very large numbers and trading at the top end of the market are securing anywhere from 5c/kg to 20c/kg higher, with plants keen to tie in to big numbers.
Reports indicate that hoggets imported from Northern Ireland range anywhere from being comparable to the Irish price to 15c/kg to 25c/kg higher, with prices continuing to trend ahead of returns in Ireland.
This is being driven by a higher base quote of £8.30/kg for hoggets, which is the equivalent of upwards of €9.55/kg. There are sizeable numbers of hoggets also being exported to Britain under the production and breeding health certificate, with such sheep selling briskly in mart sales.
The spring lamb trade is also solid, with opening quotes for QA lamb at €10/kg. Prices at the top end of the market are 10c/kg to 20c/kg higher.
Quotes in Northern Ireland for spring lambs have reduced by 20p/kg since last week. Linden Foods is quoting £8.60/kg (€9.92/kg), while Dunbia is not quoting for spring lambs.
The focus remains on hoggets with small numbers of spring lambs in the market and retailers content to continue with a hogget offering.
Last week’s sheep kill in Ireland reduced by about 1,200 head, but at 45,376, it was the second-highest kill of the year and reflective of the recent increase in demand.
Hoggets accounted for 39,744 head, with just 699 spring lambs recorded in the breakdown and 4,933 ewes and rams.
Import and export figures from Northern Ireland to Britain have not been updated for last week, but reports indicate hoggets and heavy cull ewes continue to be exported in large numbers to sales in Scotland and North England.
The sharp ewe trade in Britain is helping demand in Ireland. Prices on offer from plants in Ireland are in the region of €5.20/kg to €5.50/kg, while ewes delivered to a tight specification in large numbers are selling for 20c/kg to 30c/kg higher. The mart trade remains an excellent market for sellers struggling to negotiate with factory agents, with live prices for good ewes ranging from €2.30/kg to €2.70/kg, with choice lots to €3/kg.
Positive sales of lamb over the Easter period is driving demand and a keen appetite from factories aiming to replenish supplies.
Agents were active in mart sales over the Easter period and have in cases stepped up purchasing activity this week.
This has held a strong floor under the trade, with base quotes unchanged.
The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan continue to quote a base of €8.80/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.
Dawn Kildare is similar on a base of €8.90/kg plus 10c/kg QA, while Ballon Meats is quoting €8.80/kg all in.
Regular sellers and groups are trading in the region of €9.10/kg, while prices at the upper end of the market are in the region of €9.20/kg to €9.25/kg.
Reports indicate that sellers handling very large numbers and trading at the top end of the market are securing anywhere from 5c/kg to 20c/kg higher, with plants keen to tie in to big numbers.
Reports indicate that hoggets imported from Northern Ireland range anywhere from being comparable to the Irish price to 15c/kg to 25c/kg higher, with prices continuing to trend ahead of returns in Ireland.
This is being driven by a higher base quote of £8.30/kg for hoggets, which is the equivalent of upwards of €9.55/kg. There are sizeable numbers of hoggets also being exported to Britain under the production and breeding health certificate, with such sheep selling briskly in mart sales.
The spring lamb trade is also solid, with opening quotes for QA lamb at €10/kg. Prices at the top end of the market are 10c/kg to 20c/kg higher.
Quotes in Northern Ireland for spring lambs have reduced by 20p/kg since last week. Linden Foods is quoting £8.60/kg (€9.92/kg), while Dunbia is not quoting for spring lambs.
The focus remains on hoggets with small numbers of spring lambs in the market and retailers content to continue with a hogget offering.
Last week’s sheep kill in Ireland reduced by about 1,200 head, but at 45,376, it was the second-highest kill of the year and reflective of the recent increase in demand.
Hoggets accounted for 39,744 head, with just 699 spring lambs recorded in the breakdown and 4,933 ewes and rams.
Import and export figures from Northern Ireland to Britain have not been updated for last week, but reports indicate hoggets and heavy cull ewes continue to be exported in large numbers to sales in Scotland and North England.
The sharp ewe trade in Britain is helping demand in Ireland. Prices on offer from plants in Ireland are in the region of €5.20/kg to €5.50/kg, while ewes delivered to a tight specification in large numbers are selling for 20c/kg to 30c/kg higher. The mart trade remains an excellent market for sellers struggling to negotiate with factory agents, with live prices for good ewes ranging from €2.30/kg to €2.70/kg, with choice lots to €3/kg.
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