Markets: Easter price gains retained in lamb trade
Processors offer 650 cents/kg for new season lambs, plus the usual bonus payments for quality. The supply of spring lamb is gradually building, but demand is still very good at plants for hoggets, for which they quote a base of 570 c/kg, plus the applicable bonus.
The trade at the marts on Monday was generally easier. Some centres reported trade continuing steady, but prices were back as much as €12/head.
There were 380 head at Corrin Mart on Monday. The trade was reported to be steady. Butchers paid €87 over to €96 over for lambs, and factories paid up to €96 over.
At Kilkenny Mart on Monday, there was an entry of 460 head, and prices for lambs eased as much as €12. Butchers paid €80 over to €96 over for lambs; hoggets sold for €68 over to €88 over.
In Britain, there was very little change in the trade reported over the past week. Lambs were making the equivalent of around 636 cents/kg towards last weekend.
In France, there was a small uplift in the trade reported last week, on the back of a rise in demand, and promotions centred on forequarter cuts. Grade 1 Irish lamb was making 635 cents/kg (including VAT) towards last weekend.
