Confidence grows in sheep sector as autumn trade stabilises

Reports are that there is reasonable interest at the factories, and suppliers with larger numbers of quality lambs to offer are negotiating for 780c/kg, and in some deals up to 790c/kg or even a few cents per kilo more.

There was no change in the lamb prices at the factories this week as the trade entered a steadier phase and supplies to the processors remained tight.

In general, the lambs are being quoted at 750–760c/kg plus the quality assurance bonus, which can add up to 20c/kg to the returns for the qualifying lambs.

Reports are that there is reasonable interest at the factories, and suppliers with larger numbers of quality lambs to offer are negotiating for 780c/kg, and in some deals up to 790c/kg or even a few cents per kilo more.

However, the culls have taken a bit of a knock at the factories this week, with the prices slipping by 20c/kg to range 440–450c/kg.

The return to stability in the trade has helped to instil a bit more confidence in producers for a more positive run of trade to the end of the year and reflects the strong demand and firm prices which continue to be paid for the store lambs at the live sales in the marts.

Entries for the market sales have slipped back from their peak, while demand and prices remain firm.

There was a smaller entry on Monday at Corrin, where the top price for the butchers’ lambs was €186, paid for a lot of eight weighing 49kg, while a pen of six weighing 57kg also sold for €186.

Eight weighing 53kg made €183, and four weighing 52kg sold for €181.

There were 500 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday, where there was “a bit more bite about the trade with more interest for heavy lambs,” according to auctioneer George Candler.

Butchers paid up to €214 for a pen of 14 weighing 55kg, while six weighing 57kg made €186 and eight weighing 53kg sold for €183. The factory lots made up to €132 over.