Bord Bia targets holiday weekend sheepmeat market
Overall, quotes on Tuesday were back as much as 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) for both spring lamb and hoggets at the factories, compared to a week previous, after further slippage from Monday’s opening offers to producers.
Suppliers of new season lamb were being offered 476 cents/kg (170p/lb) with the base price for hoggets varying from 392 back to 386 cents/kg (140p to 138p/lb).
In the marts, prices have generally slipped by €2 or €3 per head. At Kilkenny on Monday, there were 1,200 head on offer and a quieter trade with prices back by €2 to €3 per head. Butchers paid €21 to €46 over, and factory agents paid €45 to €55 over. The sharpest decline in prices was for the cull ewes, which ranged from €20 to €68 per head.
Bord Bia promotions for spring lamb on the Irish market got under way on Monday with an intensive radio campaign targeted at improving demand for the coming holiday week-end. To tie in with the Irish hosting of the Ryder Cup, a four week on-pack promotion for Irish lamb has also got under way this week.
The trade in Britain has remained firm. Although still at a low level, their supply of spring lamb has been increasing and making the equivalent of up to €60 over €1 per kg at the live sales.
In France, the demand has continued strong for hoggets and has not yet picked up for the spring lamb. Hoggets are making 460 cents/kg delivered, with prices for new season lamb running at 520 cents/kg delivered.
