Lamb trade takes knock

THE lamb trade has been taking another knock this week, which has seen prices tumbling as much as 17 cents/kg (6p/lb), having opened on a much stronger tone.

A price revision by factories for Tuesday’s kill took sheep farmers by surprise, inflicting heavy price cuts.

The trade for the week opened on a stable note on Monday, with prices largely maintained from the previous week. But within 24 hours, there was a different situation. While a few factories held the opening quotes, base prices were reduced to a range from 381 back to 364 cents/kg (136p to 130p/lb).