Much better mart trade for butcher’s lambs
Base prices were ranging from 350 to 348 cents/kg (125p or 124p/lb) at the plants Tuesday, although some had opened a shade lower for Monday’s kill.
The supply of lambs to Irish factories remains well down on this time last year, at less than 50,000 head per week, compared to almost 70,000 head per week going through the plants in 2007.
In the marts there was a much improved trade for butcher’s lambs Monday, while factory lots were selling at similar prices to the previous week.
There was a smaller sale of 500 head at Fermoy Mart Monday, where butchers paid €85 to 97 per head, equivalent to €30 to 42 over, in an improved trade.
The best price was paid for a pen of 12 weighing 55 kg which sold for €97. A pen of seven weighing 53 kg made €93, and a pen of 10 weighing 52 kg sold for €93.
The factory lamb prices were similar to the previous sale, at €47 to 70 per head, or €12 to 22 over.
In Britain, prices are back slightly, but the conversion to euro brings the equivalent to 331 cents/kg.
While trade in France is reported to be sluggish, the change in the value of sterling has reduced the competitiveness of British lamb. Overall supplies in France are light and Irish lamb continues to sell at unchanged prices of 380 to 390 cents per kg.
