Looks like best ever year for lamb sales
Prices have improved as much as 5 cent/kg, and price variation between factories has narrowed, in another very positive week for sheep farmers, likely to copper-fasten 2011 as their best year ever, after many difficulties over the past decade.
Moyvalley Meats offers an all-in 490 cent/kg (175p/lb) and Kepak (Athleague) quotes 485 cent/kg plus bonus for quality. All other plants offer 485 cent/kg plus the quality bonus.
Supplies are reported to be tight, and many farmers are successfully holding out for €5/kg for lambs this week.
The trade at the marts on Monday was also more positive, with prices improved from the previous week. There was a small sale of 385 head at Fermoy Mart for a strong trade. Butchers paid €103 to €135/head, equivalent to €58 over to €77 over. Factory lambs sold for up to €105/head, or €56 over.
There were 1,120 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday. Trade overall was sharper. Butchers' lambs ranged from €62 over to €69 over. Factory lots sold for €55 over to €61 over.
Trade in Britain strengthened further over the past week, on the back of some tightening in domestic supply, combined with some further strengthening of the pound against the euro. By last weekend, prices were at the equivalent of 512 cent/kg for lambs.
In France, Irish grade 1 lamb was making up to 520 cent/kg by last weekend, largely on the back of less competitive British lamb supplies coming on to the market.
