Up to €35 over for butchers lambs

AFTER a very strong start to the New Year trading for lambs, which brought out strong supplies to the processors, there are clouds appearing on the horizon which could dampen the returns to sheep farmers.

Prices opened strongly this week, ranging from 375 to 378 cents/kg (134p or 135p/lb) and up to 381 cents/kg (136p/lb) was paid for some of Tuesday’s kill, with fewer factories on the lower level of 375 cents/kg.

There are fears that the strength of supply, and quiet export demand, will put pressure on price within a few days, and producers may be asked to take price cuts before the end of the week.