All-in 460 cent/kg best on offer for lambs this week
Some processors have left last week’s prices unchanged, but nearly half have eased prices by as much as 5 cent/kg (2p/lb).
The best on offer for this week is the all-in 460 cent/kg (164p/lb) at Moyvalley Meats, Co Kildare. The remainder are equally divided between 450 cent/kg plus bonus for quality, and 445 cent/kg plus quality bonus, equating to 160p/lb and 162p/lb, plus quality bonus.
In the marts, the trade last Monday was reported to be steady in general, but interest in lambs had weakened a little at some locations.
The entry at Fermoy was down 50% from the previous week, with 650 head on offer. The butchers’ lambs sold for €98 to €108/head, or €47 over to €56 over. Factory lots sold for up to €94/head, or €49 over.
There was a large sale of 1,800 head at Kilkenny Mart on Monday for a generally quieter trade. Butchers paid €45 over to €55 over, and factory agents paid €40 over to €54 over. Stores sold for €35 over to €45 over.
The trade in Britain eased last week as larger volumes of lamb emerged onto the market. By the weekend, live market prices had fallen by about 5 cent to the equivalent of 435 cent/kg (155p/lb).
In France, with strong supplies from Britain, there was little change in the trade last week. Supplies of Irish lamb on the market were reported to be limited, with Irish grade 1 lamb making about 465 cent/kg by the weekend.
