There is more bite in the sheep trade in recent days, with factories keen to operate at a higher level of throughput.

Agents are trying hard to keep a lid on prices quoted, with base quotes ranging from €4.90/kg to €5.00/kg. This is leaving quality-assured lambs moving in individual deals concerning sellers with no real bargaining power at a range of €5.05/kg to €5.15/kg on average.

Sellers with greater negotiating power are securing returns of €5.20/kg to €5.25/kg, while there are occasional reports of €5.30/kg paid for choice lambs.

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The equivalent of €5.30/kg has also been paid to farmers where agents are taking lambs outside of their normal catchment area and are covering transport costs.

Holding strong

The trade is holding strong despite the absence of Kildare Chilling from the market and many farmers are questioning if prices would have increased further if Kildare Chilling was competing in the market.

Producer groups slaughtering lambs in other factories are also bemoaning the absence of their quote from the market because the factory consistently quoted the highest prices over the last 12 to 18 months.

The latest update from the factory is that they are awaiting the results of coronavirus tests and do not expect to be slaughtering sheep in the early part of the week.

They are encouraging producers with sheep fit for slaughter to continue trading them where possible and to contact the plant if they need assistance in this regard.

Northern trade

The trade in the north is also holding solid, with base quotes steady at £4.40/kg or the equivalent of €4.86/kg at 90.6p to the euro.

Regular sellers and groups continue to negotiate 5p/kg to 10p/kg higher with factories also keen to ward off competition from buyers purchasing on behalf of southern plants who remain active in the market.