New season lamb scarce

Marts: The supply of spring lamb for Easter celebrations has been tight, reflecting the early Easter this year and the swing away from early spring lamb production by producers because of the poor returns.

The tight supply has boosted demand for quality hoggets, leading to an increase in prices at both the live sales and factories over the past week. The Spring lamb prices at the factories are up about 10% on 2007.

Up to €86 over was paid for the best of the new season lambs at Kilkenny Mart where the top price of €127/head was paid for a pen of eight lambs weighing 41kg. The new season lamb prices at Kilkenny ranged from €70 over. At Fermoy Mart butchers paid up to €84 over, with the highest price at €127/head being paid for a pen of four lambs weighing 43kg. Prices ranged from €85/head to €127/head which was equivalent to €50 over to €84 over.