Lamb supply rise not increasing prices

ALTHOUGH lamb supplies to the export factories for the year to date are showing an increase of 9%, the average price has remained similar to 2003.

Factories have processed an extra 150,000 lambs for the year to date and paid an average of 379 cent/kg (136p/lb), compared to 381 cent/kg over the same period last year. Slaughterings of cull ewes are 30,000 higher this year.

Bord Bia says that, according to the 2003 livestock census, the total number of breeding ewes declined by 54,000 on year-earlier levels, while the “other” sheep category showed an increase of 8%, equivalent to 75,000 head.