Lamb price slips 8 cents/kg

LAMB prices at the factories have shown further losses, with yesterday’s closing price for the week down 8 cents /kg (3p/lb) in weaker demand.

Factories buying lambs yesterday — Camolin and Navan — were quoting a base price of 414 cents/kg (148p/lb) ahead of the holiday weekend. Stronger supplies of native produced lamb in France at competitive prices is affecting the overall return in the trade and putting pressure on imported supplies. Irish exporters have found it necessary to match the local prices to get product onto the market and have cut prices to producers.

The improvement in the weather is also of concern, with demand for lamb likely to decline as the temperature increases.