Lamb prices now ‘in line’

WHILE some of the factories have increased prices for lambs this week, the effect has only brought them in line with the general run in a levelling of the field.

The factories opened on Monday with the base prices ranging 406-409 cents/kg (145p-146p/lb), with the factories at Camolin and Navan topping up their prices by 3 cents/kg (1p/lb) on Tuesday to give a uniform base of 409 cents/kg. In the marts, the trade for the opening sales of the week was unchanged, with up to €46 over €/kg being paid for the butchers’ lambs, and factory lots making up to €45 over.

Average year-to-date prices at the factories have now drawn par with the same period in 2005, at 359 cents/kg, while throughput at the factories is down by 7 per cent. In Britain, the trade commenced strong last week, before weakening through the week with an increase of one-third in the numbers on offer. Consequently, prices at the factories also came back as the week progressed. Irish lamb had a good week on the French market, where Ireland was the main supply of imported product.

The trade opened at 460-470 cents/.kg for grade 1 lamb and strengthened through the week. In the marts, there was just over 1,000 head on offer at Fermoy on Monday, but the large sale for the centre produced steady returns.

Butchers’ lambs ranged €32-€46 over €/kg. The factory buyers paid €30-€40 over. There was 1,140 of an entry at Kilkenny Mart on Monday.

Trade was unchanged from the previous week. Butchers’ lambs ranged €37-€42 over. Factory lots sold at €32-€45 over.