The significant cut in factory lamb prices since the end of last week has transferred from the dead to the live trade.
Lamb prices in mart sales have reduced week on week by an average of €5 to €8 per head, with prices for some classes falling by as much as €10 to €15-plus per head.
The latter cuts have been felt in marts which had broadly defied recent price pressure in the previous week and in marts held as the week progresses with price pressure building.
The general run of prices for heavier lambs weighing in the region of 50kg to 52kg is in the region of €206 to €214 per head, with some heavier lambs weighing upwards of 55kg selling earlier in the week to €218 to €223 per head.
Likewise, lambs weighing 47kg to 48kg which were selling in some sales over the weekend to €207 to €210 per head are now selling in the region of €198 to €203 for good-quality lambs and back to €190 for lambs with weight but poor flesh cover.
Young lambs weighing 44kg to 45kg and capable of achieving first-rate slaughter performance are selling to €195 to €200, with poorer-quality types back to €185 and lower.
It is a similar story with lighter lambs weighing 40kg to 41kg, with prices starting at €160 to €165 for poorer-quality types and rising to €170 to €174 on average for the best-quality types.
The number of store lambs appearing is slowly increasing, with demand reported as variable due in part to pressure on finished lamb prices. Most mart managers report stores selling in the region of €4/kg.
The cull ewe trade remains solid. Large-framed and well-fleshed ewes weighing 90kg to 100kg-plus are selling from €2.15/kg to €2.40/kg, with small numbers rising to €2.50/kg to €2.65/kg.
Lighter fleshed ewes weighing around the 80kg to 85kg mark are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.55/kg, with crossbred and ewes with a lower cover of flesh back to €2/kg. Hill ewes are selling from €1.50/kg to €2/kg depending on weight with heavier carcase ewes selling best. Some light carcase ewes and those lacking flesh cover are selling back to €1.30/kg and lower in some cases for ewes very short on flesh cover..