Very disappointing trade for final sale at Kilkenny’s old Barrack Street mart

YET another very disappointing week for lamb producers, as they watched prices tumble yet again after a downturn in the markets.

For the second consecutive week, there was a lamb price landslide at the factories of 15 to 20 cent/kg.

Trading opened on Monday with base prices ranging from 347 to 350 cents/kg (124p or 125p/lb), before losing another two cents on Tuesday.

In the marts, prices were back by up to €5/head on Monday. There was good demand for quality butcher lots at Fermoy on Monday, but factory agents were paying up to €12/head less.

Butchers paid €80 to 93/head, or €28 to 42 over. Factory agents paid €50 to 75/head, which was equivalent to €18 to 28 over.

There were 1,000 head at Kilkenny for the final sale at the old mart at Barrack Street before the move to Cillin Hill, a mile out the Carlow Road which is taking effect from to-day.

In a very disappointing trade, prices were back by up to €5/head.

Butchers lambs sold for €27 over to 31 over, and factory lots ranged from €23 to 29 over.

The trade here has followed a downturn in Britain and the Continent over the past week.

In Britain, prices fell sharply as the number of lambs at market increased through the week.

There was a knock-on effect on the French market, where demand eased, supplies were more than adequate, and prices came back.

The price for the best of the Irish lamb delivered in Paris slipped back to 380 cents/kg (136p/lb) before recovering to close the week up 10 cents/kg at 390 cents/kg.