Quiet lamb trade week
Most factories were on a base range of 352 to 350 cents/kg (126p to 125p/lb) on Tuesday.
The exception was Kepak, Hacketstown, quoting 358 cent/kg (128p/lb).
Factory buyers were inclined to talk down prices for the remainder of the week, but that may have more to do with an increasing supply of lambs than any sheepmeat market change.
In the marts, prices held steady this week, with an improved trade for store lambs. In Britain, lamb supplies increased by about one third last week, which put pressure on the market and hit prices, which concluded the week at the equivalent of 355 cents/kg (127p/lb), having dropped the equivalent to 18 cents/kg (6p/lb) through the week.
In France, trade remained steady during the first half of the week, with Irish lamb selling for around 355 cents/kg (127p/lb), but trade weakened by up to 5 cents/kg (2p/lb) towards the end of the week, as the supply increased. Strong supplies from the UK are expected to keep the market competitive.
In the marts, the trade at Fermoy on Monday was reported to be steady, with butchers lambs making €25 to €41 over €1/kg, and store and factory lambs selling at €15 to €25 over.
There were almost 2,200 head on offer at Kilkenny on Monday, where prices were maintained. Butchers lambs made €29 to €34 over, and factory lambs sold at €20 to €25 over. Prices for store lambs were improved by up to €2/head, and they sold for €19 to €24 over €1/kg.
