Lamb prices drop foot and mouth gain

LAMB prices have lost almost all of the recent gains in prices that resulted from increased demand in the wake of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Britain.

Prices on offer at the factories yesterday for lambs dropped to 360 cents/kg (128p/lb), a decline of 30c/kg (11p/lb) in a week as the returns to producers shed almost all of the gains of the boost in the aftermath of the outbreak and restrictions on exports imposed.

In the marts, there has been a corresponding decline in the trade, with yesterday’s sales slipping by up to €8/head on top of the continued decline over past days.