It has been another difficult week for lamb producers with prices under pressure at the factories as the trade slips further behind.

Most sales yards this week have seen yet another surge in numbers, as traditional autumn selling gets into full swing.

The lamb trade is stable at factories, with the supply-demand balance resulting in unchanged returns to sheep farmers.

First signs of some pressure on the lamb trade have emerged in the quoted prices for this week at the factories.

There is very little change in the prices quoted for lambs at the factories this week, with the tight supply situation putting market pressure on processors.

There is no overall change in prices on offer for lambs at factories for this week, with any tweaking in the upwards direction, thanks to continuing strong demand and relatively tight supply.

THERE has been further improvement in the trade for lambs at factories this week.

LAMB prices are stable at factories this week, promising a favourable end to the best year of lamb prices for a long time, rewarding sheep farmers who stayed with the business through the difficult years.

THE recovery in lamb prices continued at factories this week, as supplies tightened.

MOVEMENT in lamb prices at the factories is limited this week, but at least positive for farmers, with a marginal improvement in prices on offer at some plants.

THERE has been further slippage in lamb prices at some processing plants this week, reflecting market instability on the continent.

THERE is a much easier tone to the trade for lambs at factories for this week.

THERE is no joy for sheep farmers in the prices quoted for their lambs at factories this week.

ON the surface, no change is apparent in the hogget trade at factories this week, but there is some tweaking in price deals behind the scenes.

ANOTHER good week for sheep farmers, with quoted prices for this week strengthened by 10 cents/kg.

WEAKER overall demand has been reflected in a drop in prices for lambs at factories this week.

THERE is a steadier tone to the trade for lambs at factories this week.

THERE has been a slight easing in lamb prices for this week at factories, ending the upward price trend of the past three weeks.

MORE pressure on prices has been the general tone of the trade for lambs this week.

THERE has been very little movement in lamb prices over the past week, with quotes from the factories for this week unchanged.

POSITIVE news on the lamb trade — prices didn’t fall, having changed very little early this week, and any movement was marginally upwards, but not enough to make much difference to the returns to sheep farmers.

DEMAND for lambs has weakened at factories this week.

IT HAS been another week of pressure on lamb prices at factories, and farmers saw their profit margins reduced — yet again.

KILKENNY Mart is equipped to face the challenges of 21st century markets, according to Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan.

AN €18 MILLION landmark development which showcases progressive agri-related activity in a modern setting will be officially opened in Kilkenny today by Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister Mary Coughlan.

Marts: There was a small turnout of stock for end-of-year cattle sales at the marts yesterday where strong demand for quality animals maintained a very firm trade.

Marts: There was a drop in the number of cattle on offer at the mart sales yesterday — particularly for the heavy cattle — with a slightly sharper trade reported for beef animals.

AFTER more than half a century the last cattle sale at the existing Kilkenny Livestock Mart will take place tomorrow ending an era for one of the largest and most successful marts in the country.

The lamb trade has retained the gains of the past two weeks, without any further improvement in price paid by processors this week.

There was a sharper tone to the trade for store cattle — both bullocks and heifers — at the marts where prices for the quality stores were stronger by up to €25/head yesterday.

IT has been another bad week for sheep farmers, as weaker export markets were reflected in further lamb price reductions at factories.

The weather took a heavy toll on the number of cattle on offer at the marts yesterday, but the trade for the stock offered by those sellers who braved the harsh elements remained very firm for all classes.

Marts: The live trade has continued firm for all types of cattle at the marts, but the fall off in the attendance of farmers looking for cattle is also evident, although it has not effected the prices being paid, with plenty of demand for the smaller entries at the sales.

LAST week’s lamb prices were generally maintained by most of the processors, setting a base range of 350 to 347 cents/kg (125p or 124p/lb).

UP TO 800 farmers per week attending Kilkenny Livestock Mart will be among customers expected at Cillín Hill, Ireland’s first agribusiness and retail park.

WHILE some of the factories have increased prices for lambs this week, the effect has only brought them in line with the general run in a levelling of the field.

Marts: There was good demand for factory type and store bullocks - mostly at unchanged prices - while heifers showed gains of up to €10/head at yesterday’s mart sales.