Sheep Report: Factories are quoting 750-760 cents/kg plus the quality bonus

Mart entries were up on recent weeks and the tops sold for close to €200

The lamb prices are a shade easier at the factories this week for the top of the trade in particular, with the processors complaining that the returns from the markets have weakened over the recent weeks.

In general, the factories are quoting 750-760 cents/kg plus the quality bonus, ranging 10-20 cents/kg depending on the terms at the individual plant, which adds up in general a drop of up to 10 cents/kg.

Supplies coming to the market appear to have increased, and the processors are pointing out that the markets are a bit weaker and they are not getting the returns to justify holding the price up.

The factory cut was not reflected at the live sales at the marts on Monday, where entries were up on recent weeks and the tops sold for close to €200.

At Kilkenny, where there was an increased entry of 650 head auctioneer, George Candler reported " a decent trade for all sheep early on but heavy lambs in excess of 50 kilo tended cheaper as the sale progressed due to a large number of these on offer".

He added, "An excellent trade for store lambs plus the lamb ranging from 44 to 47 kilos, especially ewe and wether lambs in that category".

There was a top price at the sale of €198 for a pen of fifteen butchers lambs weighing 54 kgs. A lot of twenty weighing 55 kgs made €193 and twelve weighing 57 kgs sold for €190, while the factory type lambs sold for up to €129.

There was also a good entry for the sale at Corrin Mart on Monday, where a top price of €196 was paid for a lot of butchers lambs weighing 54 kgs. Four weighing 53 kgs sold for €19,2 while fifteen weighing 57 kgs made €190.