Lamb prices retain gain of 20%

LAMB prices retained gains in excess of 20% at the factories and improvements of up to €12 per head in the live trade at the marts in yesterday’s trading.

The price rise, which began on Thursday last following confirmation of another outbreak of foot and mouth in Britain, developed into a surge in returns on Friday and continued the upward trend in prices offered to producers for lambs this week.

Yesterday, the factories were quoting 415-410c/kg (148p-146p/lb) for lambs, while paying above the quoted rates to secure sufficient lambs to supply some of the deficit being created by the restrictions in Britain where a further foot-and-mouth outbreak in a sheep flock in Surrey was confirmed yesterday.

The pattern is a replica of the boost for the trade during the previous outbreaks in Surrey with the factories targeting the void on the key French market for lambs.

In the live trade prices have increased by up to €12/head with a big increase in numbers on offer at the marts. Up to €105/head was paid for lambs by butchers at Fermoy Mart where the larger entry met with an excellent trade. Butchers paid €83/head to €105/head which was equivalent to €30 over €/kg to €50 over several lots selling for close to €100/head.

A pen of 11 weighing 55kg sold for €105; four weighing 49kg made €97; 11 weighing 50kg sold for €95; seven at 50kg made €95; 12 weighing 53kg sold for €99; 10 at 53kg sold for €96, and 10 weighing 56kg sold for €99.

The factory lots made €50/head to €77/head or €20 over to €33 over.

There was a very lively trade at Kilkenny where there was a big sale of 1,650 head on offer and prices gaining up to €12/head on last week. Butchers paid €32 over to €49 over and factory lots sold for €30 over to €43 over.

Yesterday’s sale at Ennis continued the trend with butchers’ lambs selling for up to €44 over €/kg in very strong demand.