Large sales of cast ewes sell for €25 to €65

LAMB prices have steadied over the past week, a welcome change for sheep farmers from the downward trend of previous weeks.

Lower supplies in Britain and France have helped to steady the market, but the worry is that this is due to a lower supply of lambs rather than any lift in consumption.

Base prices at the factories range from 372 back to 370 cents/kg (133p or 132p/lb) with the usual bonus of 6 cents/kg for quality lambs.