Spring lamb trade steadies as prices lift to €8.80/kg

The general run of prices for the hoggets is about 720c/kg, while regular suppliers are reporting they are getting up to 750c/kg, and there is still interest from the factories in getting some hoggets.

There is a steadier tone to the lamb trade at the factories for this week in a welcome change for suppliers under pressure for the last month.

Base prices on offer for the lambs are ranging 845–860c/kg, with the bonus for quality assurance to be added, and the regular suppliers reporting up to 880c/kg is being paid for good lambs this week, with demand in a positive mode at the processors.

The changeover from hoggets to spring lamb is well advanced, but the weekly increase in the new-season lambs has slowed down, leaving some reliance remaining on the hoggets to meet the factory requirements.

The general run of prices for the hoggets is about 720c/kg, while regular suppliers are reporting they are getting up to 750c/kg, and there is still interest from the factories in getting some hoggets.

There was more life to the live trade at the marts on Monday, where the entries generally were described as low.

Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler said: "Today's sale of sheep resulted in a 100% clearance with a sharper trade all round. Numbers on offer here in Kilkenny remain small, with no indication that the situation will change. The industry needs an introduction of new blood into sheep production, which is not happening in the present climate."

There was a top price of €225 for a lot of four butchers’ spring lambs weighing 60kg. A pen of 11 weighing 53kg sold for €216, while five weighing 50kg sold for €190, and six weighing 51kg made €188. The factory type sold for up to €131 over.

There was a small entry at Corrin on Monday, with a top price of €220 for a pen of butchers’ spring lambs weighing 51kg, while one weighing 60kg sold for €218 and two at 55kg made €214.