5 cent/kg extra for factory lambs this week
Factory quotes for this week are showing an increase of 5 cents/kg (2p/lb), which has brought the base price to 370 cents/kg (132p/lb) — a move in the right direction for sheep farmers.
The increase had not filtered through to the mart sales early this week, where prices just about held their own in dull trading.
There was a large sale of 1,200 head at Fermoy on Monday, where prices continued steady for the quality lambs, but others were a shade weaker. The butchers lambs ranged from €80 to 105/head, which was equivalent to €27 over to 52 over. The factory lots made €35 to 80/head, or €15 to €34 over.
There was a dull trade for 1,000 head at Kilkenny on Monday. Butchers lambs ranged from €30 to 39 over, and the factory lots made €25 to 33 over.
The factories quoting for Tuesday were in unison, offering a base price of 370 cents/kg, with the usual 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) bonus for quality lambs. Intake at the plants is down by more than 40% compared to the same time last year, hovering around 45,000 lambs per week.
In Britain, supplies have also tightened, helping to knock the equivalent of 8 cents/kg (3p/lb) of prices, which closed for the week at the equivalent of 360 cents/kg (128p/lb), including VAT.
The trade is France is described as steady with a low throughput.. Prices being paid for Irish lamb are unchanged within a range of 400 to 410 cents/kg.
