Lamb supplies in Britain to rise 8%
The latest forecast from the Meat and Livestock Commission predicts lamb production, which increased by about 2% during the first half of the year, will return an 8% increase over 2002 levels for the second half of the year.
Consumption of sheepmeat was down by 2% for the first half of the year, but with an increase predicted for the second half, is expected to remain similar to 2002 for the year as a whole. Exports of sheepmeat are forecast to show an increase of 13% for the year. British imports of sheepmeat for the first five months of the year were marginally higher than the corresponding period in 2002, with 80% of the total volume of imports being supplied by New Zealand.
Imports are expected to remain at last year’s level for the remainder of the year, with New Zealand maintaining its share of the market.
While higher prices were paid to British producers for lamb, export sales of lamb for the first five months increased by 18%. Exports to France were 26% higher than the same period in 2002. Lamb prices eased by 1p-2p/lb at the factories yesterday, after an improved run on price over the past week. Yesterday’s kill was being quoted by the factories at a base price of 353-364 cent/kg (126p-130p/lb).
In the marts, sales were large during the early days of this week. Kilkenny had 2,400 head, with prices improved by €1-€4/head, and Athenry had in excess of 2,500 head with prices similar to last week. At Bandon, there was a small sale and quieter trade for the lambs selling at €24-€28 over €/kg.
Martin Ryan
