Very positive year for sheep farmers ends with €5 per kg on offer for lambs
Demand for lambs remained strong this week at factories, and most of them are expected to operate for two days during the second half of next week to fill orders.
A consistent leader in the sector throughout most of the past year, Moyvalley Meats in Co Kildare maintained their position at the top of the price league this week, quoting an all-in 500 cent/kg.
A strong second place contender is the neighbouring Kildare Chilling, which came in a few cent less when all bonus payments are added.
Others quote base prices of 480 to 485 cent/kg plus quality bonus, and they are all anxious to get lambs.
In the marts, the sales were small on Monday, and prices were firm at all centres, with up to €65 over being paid by butchers for the lambs.
It was a very small sale of 160 head at Fermoy on Monday. Butchers paid €106 to €125/head for lambs, equivalent to €56 over to €64 over.
Factory lambs sold for up to €104/head, or €58 over.
Numbers on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday were also lower, although the sale was still sizeable, at 750 head, for a steady trade at the previous week's prices. Butchers lambs sold for €58 over to €65 over. Factory lambs made €58 over to €65 over, and strong demand saw €50 over to €63 over paid for store lambs.
The trade in Britain eased slightly over the past week. By the weekend, prices were at the equivalent of 535 cent/kg (191p/lb).
In France, the trade continued to strengthen in advance of Christmas, with Irish grade 1 lamb reported to be making 530 to 540 cent/kg by the weekend.
