Strong demand in France boosts lamb market

GOOD demand for hoggets at the factories this week resulted in a small improvement in prices paid to farmers, as post Christmas re-stocking by meat wholesalers boosted the market.

Processors quoted base prices from 344 back to 340 cents/kg (123p or 122p/lb), showing a slight increase on the pre-Christmas trade.

In the marts, prices were steady for the top quality butchers hoggets, but the factory lots were back €2 to €4 per head, with large supplies on offer at the sales for the start of the week.