Easter demand boosts lamb prices

Marts: New season lamb and hogget prices are benefiting from improved trade with increases for both categories at factories as the busy Easter demand approaches.

Spring lamb prices are showing the first increase in quotes since the opening of the trade for 2006 at a disappointing 476 cents/kg (170pence/lb), from a producers point of view, being considerably back on 2005.

An increase of 6c/kg (2p/lb) was quoted as a base price for spring lamb yesterday at Kepak, Hacketstown with 482c/kg on offer, while Kepak, Athleague moved up to 484c/kg, before the addition of bonus payments of 6c/kg (2p/lb) where applicable.