Lamb prices increased by 10-20c/kg this week, to reach prices of between €4.80/kg and €4.90/kg. There have been reports of prices edging towards €5/kg as demand for lambs continues to exceed supply.

Some plants were affected by the beef protests on Tuesday and, following the bank holiday weekend, processors have been eager to get throughput back on track.

Agents in the west were less active in sourcing lambs over the weekend as a result of the protests, but it was business as usual from Tuesday onwards.

Western mart managers reported a strong buying presence from factory agents on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With supplies of fat lambs passing through livestock marts also tightening, competition for numbers helped to increase prices by €5 to €6/head for a second successive week.

At meat plants, base quotes have increased to €4.60/kg, which is also 10-20c/kg higher than last week, highlighting strong processor demand for finished lambs.

Ewe prices continue to benefit from improving market demand, with prices of €2.80/kg to €3/kg being paid this week. Imported lambs from Northern Ireland totalled 9,970, which is down on previous weeks.

Market indications are that supplies of finished lambs are growing increasingly tight north of the border.

With an additional 62,000 sheep processed in NI this year, market sources are indicating that prices should remain firm for the remainder of the year.