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There is growing anger among early lamb producers with the current factory quoted prices.
This year prices are back 40c/kg to 50c/kg compared with Easter 2016. Farmers are securing €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg, with prices of €6.30/kg more difficult to come by.
In the past, Easter was the target market for early lambs where premium prices were secured for these specialised lambs. Often times these would be the peak prices of the year.
This year, the Easter holiday weekend is falling three weeks later than last year and as a result supply of spring lamb was higher, hitting this market.
However, despite greater numbers, factory agents have been reluctant to switch to lambs and held their focus on hoggets ahead of Easter.
Supply
The supply of spring lamb has been on the increase sitting at 3,574 head last week, up 2,640 head on the week previous. However, supplies of hoggets are far stronger at 44,570 head and up to now have remained the focus of factory agents.
Critical time
IFA sheep chair John Lynskey said there is an onus on the lamb factories to act responsibly at this critical time for the lamb trade.
“Producers would need a price closer to €7/kg to leave a reasonable margin, particularly considering the heavier workload involved,” he said.
Spring lamb prices €12 behind 2016
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