Mart prices give hope to sheep farmers

IT has been another bad week for sheep farmers, as weaker export markets were reflected in further lamb price reductions at factories.

Factory prices eased by 15 cents/kg (5p/lb) on the back of poor demand and strong competition driving down prices in the UK and France.

Factory prices for the week opened at 388 to 386 cents/kg (138p to 137p/lb), The usual bonus of 6 cents/kg applies for quality.

The supply of lambs to factories is now back about 20% from the same time last year. Year to date average prices are almost 3% higher than in 2006, but week-on-week prices are well down.

In the marts, prices were unchanged from the previous week. There were 1,000 head on offer at Fermoy on Monday, where there was an improved trade. Butchers lambs made €80 to 97 per head, or €35 to 47 over €1/kg. Factory lots sold for €70 to 84/head, or €30 to 42 over.

There was a smaller sale of 900 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday, where prices were similar to the previous week, raising producers’ hopes that the worst of the current price slide may be over. Butchers’ lambs sold for €31 to 37 over, and factory agents paid €30 to 39 over.