Only €44 over for best

LAMB producers have been hit by a disappointingly sharp slump in prices.

As spring lamb prices dropped by 34 cents/kg (12p/lb) this week, the news was not much better for the end of season hoggets, for which prices came back by up to 28 cents/kg (10p/lb) at the factories.

In the marts, the trade followed a similar pattern, with the best of the spring lambs making €44 over €1/kg on Monday. There were 1,000 head on offer at Fermoy on Monday, where spring lambs sold at €38 to €44 over, and butchers paid €20 to €33 over for hoggets.