Lamb prices cut 5 cent/kg per day

LAMB prices have weakened further at factories this week, following the market trend in Britain and France, where the trade is also disappointing for sheep farmers.

Although intake at Irish factories is down about 5% compared to the same weeks last year, and there is strong home market demand for lamb, on Monday, Irish processors offered 5 cents/kg less than the same day last week, qouting a base price of 375 cents/kg (134p/lb). They dropped prices a further 5 cents/kg on Tuesday, to 370 cents/kg (132p/lb). The usual bonus of 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) applied for quality.

At the marts, prices were back by as much as €6 per head, with the strongest of the trade for butcher’s lambs, selling for up to €61 over.