Weekly lamb supply 5,000 head lower than last year
For the most part, the base prices on offer range from 336 back to 330 cents/kg (120 to 118p/lb), but some of the factories reduced their prices by 5 cents/kg (2p/lb) on Tuesday, offering a base of 325 cents/kg (116p/lb).
Lamb supply to the factories has slipped under 58,000 head per week, about 5,000 head lower than this time last year.
In the marts, the butchers lambs are selling for up to €36 over €1/kg, and factory lots are making up to €29 over, with strong supplies at the sales this week.
In Britain, the trade for lambs eased through last week, concluding at the equivalent of 333 cents/kg (119p/lb), inclusive of VAT, with a steady supply during the week, before easing off somewhat towards the end of the week.
In France, there has been very little change. An improvement in the trade followed the holiday week-end but was short lived, with stronger supplies from the UK resulting in an easing back in prices towards the end of last week.
The best of the Irish lamb were making 360 cents/kg (128p/lb) delivered.
There were 900 head on offer at Fermoy mart on Monday, where the butcher’s lambs ranged from €22 to 36 over €1/kg, and factory lambs sold at €10 to €21 over. At Kilkenny Mart, where there were 1,500 head on offer, the butchers’ lambs ranged from €24 to €32 over, and factory lambs made €18 to €29 over, a drop of €2 to €4 per head from the previous week for the factory lots.
