Too many held lambs for the pre-Christmas trade
In the marts, bigger numbers have led to prices falling back 3/head this week.
Factories opened the week with largely unchanged quotes but some added up to 5 cent/kg (2p/lb) on Tuesday. Quotes ranged from 342 back to 331 cent/kg (122 to 118p/lb). Supplies are building as producers who held back to benefit from the pre-Christmas trade move stock more freely. An increased supply of Irish lamb to France during the week led to quieter trading, at prices from 350 to 355 cent/kg (125p to -127p/lb).
There was a steady trade at Fermoy Mart on Monday, where butchers lambs sold for up to 32 over, and factory lambs made up to 25 over.
Almost 2,400 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart met a quieter trade, with prices back by as much as 3/head.
Butchers lambs sold for up to 31 over and factory lambs made up to 26 over. A huge supply at Athenry Mart on Monday met a tougher trade with prices back 3/head.
