Little sign of halt in lamb price slide

LAMB prices have come under pressure again, with little indication of where the erosion of prices might settle, or when.

When factories resumed slaughtering on Tuesday, quoted prices showed a drop of 6 to 14 cent/kg (5p/lb) from the opening prices of last week. Base prices ranged wider than usually from 350 cents/kg (125p/lb) back to 336 cents/kg (120p/lb). Hacketstown were at the higher level and Athleague on the lower price, while most of the other plants quoting were on 344 cents/kg (123p/lb).

In the marts on Monday, the numbers on offer were not as strong as in recent weeks, and the trade in general was steady, with the best of the demand for stores.