Ten lambs weighing 44.5kg sold for €113.00 at Loughrea Mart last Thursday.
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A scarcity of grass, particularly in eastern and southern counties, is beginning to have a negative effect on the store lamb trade. Drought-like conditions on store buyers’ farms means the usual flush of after-grass from silage-making is not available. Some farmers have been stalling on selling lambs, hoping that conditions change and more sellers would come on stream. However, forecasts do not seem to be changing for the better and the grass scarcity is likely to continue.
Currently, store lambs weighing 30kg to 34kg are selling from €70 to €76/head. Heavier lambs weighing 35kg to 39kg are selling from €80 to €90/head. One mart manger said he has heard of some store lamb producers supplementing lambs with concentrates so they will have extra flesh cover. The producer is hoping he will have more customers for his lambs as a result.
Factory lambs weighing 40kg to 42kg are selling from €95 to €105/head, or €55 to €63 over the weight.
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Factory lambs weighing 43kg to 46kg are selling for €107 to €115/head, or €67 to €69 over the weight. Prices are back more than €5/head for these lambs compared with last week. This is reflective of recent factory price reductions.
Heavier butcher-type lambs are selling for €118 to €125/head. Very heavy lambs weighing over 50kg made up to €130/head in sales.
Cull ewes
Unlike lambs, the cull ewe trade has not been subject to reductions. Fleshed cull ewes are selling from €110 to €130/head, with top prices exceeding €140/head. Lighter ewes are selling from €70 to €100/head.
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A scarcity of grass, particularly in eastern and southern counties, is beginning to have a negative effect on the store lamb trade. Drought-like conditions on store buyers’ farms means the usual flush of after-grass from silage-making is not available. Some farmers have been stalling on selling lambs, hoping that conditions change and more sellers would come on stream. However, forecasts do not seem to be changing for the better and the grass scarcity is likely to continue.
Currently, store lambs weighing 30kg to 34kg are selling from €70 to €76/head. Heavier lambs weighing 35kg to 39kg are selling from €80 to €90/head. One mart manger said he has heard of some store lamb producers supplementing lambs with concentrates so they will have extra flesh cover. The producer is hoping he will have more customers for his lambs as a result.
Factory lambs weighing 40kg to 42kg are selling from €95 to €105/head, or €55 to €63 over the weight.
Factory lambs weighing 43kg to 46kg are selling for €107 to €115/head, or €67 to €69 over the weight. Prices are back more than €5/head for these lambs compared with last week. This is reflective of recent factory price reductions.
Heavier butcher-type lambs are selling for €118 to €125/head. Very heavy lambs weighing over 50kg made up to €130/head in sales.
Cull ewes
Unlike lambs, the cull ewe trade has not been subject to reductions. Fleshed cull ewes are selling from €110 to €130/head, with top prices exceeding €140/head. Lighter ewes are selling from €70 to €100/head.
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