Further improvement in lamb trade

THERE has been further improvement in the trade for lambs at factories this week.

Prices quoted by processors this week are stronger by 5-10 cent/kg, and the momentum which drove the trade in 2011 is continuing.

The top price on offer for the week is 500 cent/kg (178p/lb) plus quality bonus which is on offer at a number of factories.

The spread of offers ranges through 500 cent/kg all in, and back to 490 cent/kg plus bonus.

Some farmers are reporting up to 10 cent/kg (4p/lb) higher than quoted prices being paid for better quality lambs this week.

In the marts, numbers on offer are seasonally light after the Christmas break, and butchers’ lambs have been selling for up to €72 over.

There was a small sale of 350 head at Fermoy Mart on Monday last. The butchers lambs sold for €107 to €131 per head, equivalent to €60 over to €72 over. Factory lambs sold for up to €104, or €60 over.

There were 950 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday for the first sale of 2012. Butchers' lambs sold for €62 over to €70 over, and factory lambs ranged from €60 over to €65 over. There was also a good trade at Kilkenny for stores, at €53 over to €70 over.

The trade in Britain has eased slightly over the past week, as more supplies emerged. By last weekend, prices across Britain were the equivalent of 535 cent/kg (191p/lb).