Another disappointing week for spring lamb prices

SPRING lamb prices are having another bad week, with the rates on offer tumbling, and producers bitterly disappointed as expectations are dashed.

Factory buyers and the IFA disagree as to the merit of the trend, but the reality for producers is that they are taking around 35cents/kg (14p/lb) less for the new season lambs than a week ago as prices on offer fall well below the benchmark of 500cents/kg, which they had hoped would not have been breached for some time yet.

The trade was very quiet at the plants on Monday and the limited number of processors slaughtering on Tuesday were offering a very disappointing base price range of 465-460 cents/kg (166p-164p/lb) with the usual 5-6cents/kg bonus for quality.