The number of finished lambs appearing in sales has reduced in some marts, with some managers commenting that farmers are delaying presenting lambs and presenting at heavier weights in a bid to maximise returns.
Lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg are trading from €92 to €98 on average, with a few lots of top-quality butcher-type lambs rising to €100-plus.
Factory agents are limited in prices paid by continued pressure on factory prices. Fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 47kg are selling on average from €87 to €94. Ewe lambs with breeding potential are attracting a premium of €5 to €8 above equivalent-weight lambs, with the best-quality lots suitable for breeding this year selling from €110 to €125 on average.
Store lamb demand is being helped by grass buyer interest now being joined by farmers purchasing lambs for grazing catch crops. Light hill stores range from €1.55/kg to €1.75/kg rising to €1.90/kg for crossbred lambs. Lowland tight-wooled stores are selling on average from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg for lots weighing 37kg to 41kg.
Hogget prices remain very variable. Small-framed and crossbred hoggets are trading from €120 to €135, with good-quality hoggets from €145 to €155 and small numbers of top-quality lots to €170. There are few selling above this range.
First- and second-crop ewes are trading from €100 to €120 on average, with small numbers of top-quality large-framed ewes to €135.
The cull ewe trade is also influenced by downward factory price pressure. Heavy ewes are selling on average from €85 to €100, with small numbers to €110 and higher. Feeding ewes are selling from €55 to €75, with hill ewes back to €30 to €40 for light types.
The number of finished lambs appearing in sales has reduced in some marts, with some managers commenting that farmers are delaying presenting lambs and presenting at heavier weights in a bid to maximise returns.
Lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg are trading from €92 to €98 on average, with a few lots of top-quality butcher-type lambs rising to €100-plus.
Factory agents are limited in prices paid by continued pressure on factory prices. Fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 47kg are selling on average from €87 to €94. Ewe lambs with breeding potential are attracting a premium of €5 to €8 above equivalent-weight lambs, with the best-quality lots suitable for breeding this year selling from €110 to €125 on average.
Store lamb demand is being helped by grass buyer interest now being joined by farmers purchasing lambs for grazing catch crops. Light hill stores range from €1.55/kg to €1.75/kg rising to €1.90/kg for crossbred lambs. Lowland tight-wooled stores are selling on average from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg for lots weighing 37kg to 41kg.
Hogget prices remain very variable. Small-framed and crossbred hoggets are trading from €120 to €135, with good-quality hoggets from €145 to €155 and small numbers of top-quality lots to €170. There are few selling above this range.
First- and second-crop ewes are trading from €100 to €120 on average, with small numbers of top-quality large-framed ewes to €135.
The cull ewe trade is also influenced by downward factory price pressure. Heavy ewes are selling on average from €85 to €100, with small numbers to €110 and higher. Feeding ewes are selling from €55 to €75, with hill ewes back to €30 to €40 for light types.
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