In the lead up to Easter, numbers of early lambs were noticeably tighter in marts. Much of this can be put down to an early Easter and difficult weather conditions.
However, Carnew Mart manager David Quinn believes many early producers have set the lambing date back due to a lack of price incentive in the past number of years for spring lambs.
“This time last year, early lambs were not making any more than hoggets and farmers have made the decision to switch away from that system to lambing later,” he explained.
Factories, wholesalers and butchers are all aware of the absence and have been battling hard for the limited supplies. David said this year farmers who made the effort are seeing a reward in terms of stronger prices. Fleshed lambs weighing just 38kg to 39kg were making €145 to €146/head and lambs weighing 40kg made up to €148/head in sales.
Sales
With the cold wet weather, he believes it could be mid- to late May before a decent number of spring lambs make an appearance in sales.
Similarly, numbers of ewes with lambs at foot have been variable. Young ewes with two lambs at foot are making up to €225/unit, while older ewes with two lambs are selling from €150 to €170/unit. Ewes with a single lamb are making from €120 to €170/unit.
Hogget prices remain steady, but may have eased for lots weighing in excess of 50kg. These heavy hoggets are moving at €130 to €138/head. Lighter fleshed hoggets weighing 45kg to 48kg are moving at €115 to €125/head or €70 to €77 over the weight.
Cull ewes continue to be in demand, with heavy fleshed ewes selling from €110 to €130/head.
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