Factories pay up to 830c/kg for quality lambs
The numbers on offer at live sales at the marts have tightened and prices have hardened.
There is a firmer tone to the lamb trade at the factories this week, and good demand for supplies as numbers tighten approaching the end of the season.
Smaller entries at live sales at the marts have delivered a boost to sellers, with €226 paid for 51kg lambs at Corrin Mart on Monday, which has not yet been replicated at the factories.
However, while factories continue to offer quotes ranging from 785-790c/kg, plus the quality bonus worth 15-20c/kg, suppliers are reporting processors are paying 820c/kg and, in some deals, up to 830c/kg to secure quality lambs this week.
In addition, there is latitude to negotiate on the cut-off weight up to 23kg at some plants.
The numbers on offer at live sales at the marts have tightened and prices have hardened.
At Kilkenny Mart on Monday, the entry was back to 380 head, while a firmer trade pushed butcher lambs to €222/head.
Auctioneer George Candler said “the bulk of lambs in excess of 52kg ranged from €200 to €220/head”, and there was also a good, solid trade for factory-type lambs, peaking at €201 for 49kg.
The leading price of €222 was paid for a pen of 16 butcher lambs weighing 58kg. A lot of 35 weighing 57kg made €221 and 14 weighing 60kg sold for €220, while 28 weighing 51kg sold for €200. Factory-type lots sold for up to €152 over.
A lot of butcher lambs weighing 51kg sold for €226 at Corrin Mart on Monday to top the trade there. A pen of 11 weighing 54kg sold for €224, while 11 weighing 53kg made €222.
