Lambs €2 per head dearer in marts

THE lamb trade early this week was almost unchanged from seven days earlier.

Factories opened on Monday with base prices ranging from 350 to 344 cents/kg (125 to 123p/lb), and this price range was generally maintained Tuesday.

Kildare moved up 3 cents/kg to a base of 347 cents/kg, with Ballyhaunis quoting at 344 cents/kg.

Throughput at factories has slipped about 9% under the same time last year, at 60,000 lambs per week.

The best paying factory on Tuesday was Kepak at Hacketstown, paying a base price of 350 cents/kg, followed by Camolin, Navan and Kildare, all on a base of 347 cents/kg. The usual bonus payments of 6 cents/kg for superior grade applies.

There was an improved trade at the Monday mart sales, with prices advancing up to €2/head.

At Fermoy on Monday, butchers lambs made €26 to €36 over, and factory lots sold at €16 to €29 over. There were 1,400 head on offer at Kilkenny, where quality lots were dearer by up to €2/head. Butchers paid €17 to €37 over €1/kg, and factory lots sold at €17 to €39 over.

In the UK, prices fell back slightly at the end of last week, but the trade in France was a shade stronger, which should benefit Irish exporters.

In France, the top quality Irish lamb was selling at 375 to 370 cents/kg delivered in Paris, with stronger demand boosting the trade over the past week.