Heavier lambs tip market over

LAMB prices suffered another knock this week as processors reduced quotes by 17 to 25 cent/kg (6p to 9p/lb), and prices in the marts were also back, but to a lesser degree.

French bank holidays always cause some disruption to the trade and led to stronger supplies of lamb on the market over there, which are blamed by some for the latest price drop.

But the increase in supplies to Irish factories and the increase in average weight, putting more sheep meat on to a quiet market, are big factors in the price drop.

Base prices at the factories are ranging from 434 back to 420 cents/kg (155p to 150p/lb) after that sharp drop of up to 25 cents/kg from a week earlier.

The factories are also saying that more of the lambs coming in are over the ideal weight for the market, which is not helping the trade.

In Britain, over the past week, there was a big increase in new season lamb supplies, up by 16%, which brought their prices back by up to 10 cents/kg (4p/lb) to around 469 cents/kg (168p/lb) by the end of the week.

In France, Irish lamb was selling at 430 and back to 420 cents/kg (153p to 150p/lb) with supplies to the market strong, and the bank holiday on Thursday last upsetting the trade.

There is a lot of Spanish lamb on the market, and the new season French lamb is also readily available.

In the marts in Ireland on Monday, prices were back up to €2/head.

At Kilkenny, where there was almost 1,400 head on offer, the butcher’s lambs made €45 to 53 over €1/kg, and factory lots sold at €40 to 44 over.

The trade was reported steady at Fermoy where the butcher’s lambs sold at €40 to 47 over, and factory lots made €35 to 45 over.

Prices were back €2/head at Athenry, where the lambs sold at €38 to 46 over.