Lamb price under pressure

Sheep trends by Peter Young

Lamb prices are coming under pressure. Earlier in the week 367c/kg was paid and 364c/kg was freely available. As the week went on, export plants reduced quotes and were having some success trying to buy lambs closer to 353c/kg.

France

Looking across to France and the UK is it hard to see the reason for the fall. Bord Bia report that the market in France has been steady and shown little change as this week progressed. Supplies during the week are reported stable with Irish spring lambs making 355c/kg dw incl. VAT with up to 365c/kg dw incl. VAT available for the very top quality Irish lamb.

UK

In the UK, lamb prices, which dipped early last week, bounced back last Thursday and have held at the 112-113pstg/kg dw mark this week. Despite a ten per cent rise in numbers on Tuesday, the average price remained at 112.12p stg/kg lw which is equivalent to 369c/kg dw incl. VAT. Numbers on Monday and Tuesday amounted to 20,000 and 24,300 respectively.

Larry Fallon, Chairman IFA sheep committee, believes there is no apparent reason for the recent pull in prices.

"Farmers should be in no hurry to sell lambs at the lower prices, resisting the attempts of the factories to simply boost their own profits," he urged.

The market for light lambs remain slow and 322c/kg is on offer from Dawn Ballyhaunis.

Breeding

The good demand at breeding sales continue around the country. The first breeding sale in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo got off to a good start but a comparison on last year found average prices back €14.50 a head. Good quality ewe hoggets ranged from €95 to €125, which included some cross breds. In Enniscorthy there was also a stronger demand and ewe hoggets made €93 to €130, while older ewes made €66 to €95 a head. In Tullow breeding hoggets sold from €88 to €135, while 3yr olds ewes ranged from €80 to €105 a head. In Kilkenny breeding hoggets made €100 to €130. 2 and 3yr olds sold at €65 to €100, while a special sale of Suffolk rams fetched €350 to €750.

Lambs

The store trade is waking up. Store lambs improved in Ballinrobe by €5-7 on the previous week. Nice store lambs made €55 to €65 a head and butcher lambs made up to €76. In Roscommon yesterday (Wednesday) factory lambs made '€21 to €31 over and cast ewes made €29 to €56 a head.

Store lambs were improved and made €24 to €30 over.

In Kilkenny butcher lambs were a steady trade especially for quality lots, but there was less demand for lambs with tails or castrated. Butcher lambs fetched €28 to €34, while factory lambs made €20 to €26 over and store lambs sold at €€15 to €25 over. Cull ewes fetched €15 to €55.

Ewes

Increased numbers of cull ewes continue to come out. Trade in the factory is holding up well with up to 140c/kg paid for a load of good quality cast ewes this week.