Sheep trade: Lamb prices firm to positive this week

This week's sheep trade has seen most outlets hold their price offers at the same level as last week as "a sharper trade" is being seen in the mart trade for lambs.

Lamb prices had suffered heavy cuts in the past two consecutive weeks, but a firm store lamb trade is helping to keep a base on lighter lamb prices.

Factory procurement staff have told Agriland that there is a push from processors to reduce lamb price further, but with spring lamb supplies down 38,500 head or 12% to date this year, the reduced availability may help stabilise or even strengthen the price.

In Northern Ireland, base quotes for 'R3' lambs increased this week to £6.80-£7.00/kg up to 21kg, according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

This week, Kepak is quoting €8.00/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.15/kg on offer up to 21.5kg carcass-weight.

This the same price as last Monday, but the maximum carcass weight is up 0.5kg.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €4.70-€4.80/kg for cull ewes again this week.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €8.00/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.20/kg on offer here again this week up to 21.5kg.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes - up 20c/kg since last week.

Kildare Chilling has no official quote for spring lambs, but is quoting €6.90/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus on hoggets up to 23kg carcass-weight.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €4.70/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for better-type cull ewes.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.10/kg for spring lambs this week, down 10c/kg and €5.10/kg for cull ewes, the same as last week.

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In Kilkenny Mart today (Monday, July 21), butcher lambs made up to €226/head for five 55kg lambs. Another entry of 20 lambs averaging 52kg made €208/head.

Factory-weight lambs made up to €179/head for five 47kg lambs, with 20 lambs averaging 44kg making €162/head.

Store lambs made up to €141/head for six lambs averaging 38kg.

Cull ewes made from €88-€280/head in the sale.

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