Increase in throughput for lamb

THE drop in the supply of lambs to the export factories since the beginning of August has offset the increase in throughput for the first seven months of the year.

Year to date throughput at the end of June was 3.5% up on the same period for 2004, amounting to an increase of 52,000 head. However, during August, the lead on last year was eroded by lower throughput, with the margin dropping to 34,000 head over last year, equivalent to 2% by the end of August.

The fall off has continued into September with the margin now down to just over 0.5%.