Factories paying up to 910c/kg for scarce lambs
With little pressure to sell, and the excellent weather providing ideal conditions for fodder conservation and the early harvesting of winter cereals, factories remain anxious to secure supplies.
Lamb prices are holding steady at the factories this week, with supply struggling to meet demand as market conditions remain positive.
Factory quotes for lambs are generally unchanged at 880c/kg, plus the quality assurance bonus of 20c/kg at most plants, giving suppliers a return of 900c/kg.
With little pressure to sell, and the excellent weather providing ideal conditions for fodder conservation and the early harvesting of winter cereals, factories remain anxious to secure supplies.
Finishers are reporting prices of up to 910c/kg, with larger consignments attracting a few cents per kilogram extra in some deals.
Some factories are reporting average lamb carcass weights are down so far this season, with some lots falling below the current carcass weight limit.
There are still some hoggets making up numbers at the factories, where they are being quoted at 780c/kg plus the QA bonus, with a carcass weight limit of 23kg, unchanged from last week.
The weather has also affected entries at live sales in marts this week.
Kilkenny Mart reported an unusual situation.
A top price of €237 was paid for a lot of 17 butcher's lambs weighing 55kg. A pen of 16 weighing 55kg made €226, while a lot of eight weighing 53kg made €223, and 11 weighing 52kg sold for €219.
Factory-type lots sold for up to €148 over.
