Up to €58 over for butchers’ lambs
Most processors offer a base of 440 cents/kg (157p/lb), plus the usual bonus of 5-6 cents/kg for quality lots. The exception to the general run is the Co Kildare based Moyvalley Meats, where the quote is an all-in price of 440 cents/kg.
Demand for lambs is strong and some processors are reported to have paid well above quoted prices to get supplies over the past week.
In the marts, the trade at the opening sales this week was also very strong, with most centres reporting an improvement in prices and butchers paying up to €58 over for good quality lambs.
There was a small sale of 500 head at Fermoy on Monday. Butchers paid €93 to €118/head, equivalent to €43 over to €58 over. Factory lambs sold for up to €91/head, or €52 over.
At Kilkenny Mart on Monday, there were 1,000 head on offer in a very lively trade, with prices improved by as much as €7/head. Butchers paid €50 over to €56 over, with factory lots selling for €46 over to €53 over. Store lambs made €38 over to €48 over.
In Britain, lamb prices have benefited from some strengthening in sterling. Prices improved as the week progressed, reaching the equivalent of 424c/kg (151p/lb) including VAT towards the weekend.
In France, trade for limited volumes of Irish lamb improved in anticipation of the Eid al-Adha Muslim festival this week. Normal export activity has been resumed following the ending of strikes, which should help to restore trade. Prices being paid for grade 1 Irish lambs stood at around 460c/kg for most of the week.
