Up to €170 for butchers’ lambs and first of spring lambs sell for 710-720c/kg

Buoyant sheepmeat market continues

The sheep sale at Kenmare Mart. Sheep farmers hope than Easter and Ramadan demand boosts will keep the market buoyant into April and May.

There is a sense of optimism among sheep farmers, the likes of which the sector has never before witnessed, as prices at the factories continue at levels far beyond their wildest expectations, driven primarily by extremely tight supply levels compared to 12 months ago (hogget throughput 6% lower, ewes and ram throughput 16% lower).

For some, who have experienced difficult times in sheep farming, it is hard to believe that prices have hit record-high levels.