Heavy drop in new season lamb prices

THE past week has brought about a big change in fortunes for lamb producers as lamb prices suffered their heaviest drop to date for new season supplies.

Quoted prices have come back by up to 28 cents/kg (10p/lb) at the factories to a base range of 459-454 cents/kg (164p-162p/lb) with an increase in supplies in Britain and plenty of lamb coming on to the market in France.

Prices have also eased at the mart sales this week, but the impact on Monday appeared to be less severe with the butchers lambs continuing to trade at up to e53 over e/kg for the tops.

The sudden change ihas more to do with an increase of 25% in the supply of spring lambs in Britain over the week and some distortion on deliveries.

In Britain the price came back by 20 cents/kg (7p/lb) last week with the sharp increase in supplies, which brought the price down to 508 cents/kg (181p/lb).

On the French market Irish lamb sold at 440-420 cents/kg excl Vat (157p-150p/lb) during the early part of the week but slipped back. In the marts the trade was steady at Fermoy on Monday were the butchers lambs sold at e42-e53 over e/kg and the factory lambs made e40-e47 over.

There were over 1,500 head on offer at Kilkenny where the butchers lambs made up to e46 over and at Athenry Mart up to e52 over for the spring lambs.