Finished lambs are in hot demand while a recovery in grass growth in the east is driving demand for store lambs and putting life into the market ahead of breeding sales.
Factory agents are very active inmart sales to try and bolster throughput.
ADVERTISEMENT
Finished lamb prices are running at their highest level in July for more than five years. Factory base quotes range from €5.30/kg to €5.40/kg, while prices paid to producers with greater negotiating power and those trading through producer groups range from €5.60/kg to €5.70/kg. This represents an increase of 40c/kg to 60c/kg on the corresponding period in 2019 or €8 to €10 higher returns on a 20kg carcase.
The trade is being helped by tight supplies and solid demand in domestic and export markets. Factory agents are using mart sales to try to bolster numbers and are willing to drop down on weights to secure lambs.
They are meeting strong opposition from store lamb buyers armed with ample grass supplies. Lowland store lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg are selling anywhere from €80 to €95 with lighter lots weighing 32kg upwards selling from €72 to €80 on average. Crossbred lambs are running €3 to €6 above last year’s returns.
ADVERTISEMENT
The outlook for the month is looking more positive each day the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha draws nearer. The festival which takes place from the evening of Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August has underpinned the largest weekly kills in recent years.
Live exporters are also becoming active in recent days in sourcing suitable sheep and this is likely to help to keep a good floor under the trade.
The positive trade is inserting much more confidence into the sector as breeding sales commence.
Tullow Mart’s first breeding sale of 2020 included one of the largest entries for its first sale. Manager Eric Driver said farmers anticipated a strong trade and were keen to show sheep earlier. An entry of 350 hoggets ranged from €175 to €185 for lighter types and as high as €195 to €210 for quality lots.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the headline, summary and link below:
Title: Five-year July high for sheep prices
Finished lambs are in hot demand while a recovery in grass growth in the east is driving demand for store lambs and putting life into the market ahead of breeding sales.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Finished lamb prices are running at their highest level in July for more than five years. Factory base quotes range from €5.30/kg to €5.40/kg, while prices paid to producers with greater negotiating power and those trading through producer groups range from €5.60/kg to €5.70/kg. This represents an increase of 40c/kg to 60c/kg on the corresponding period in 2019 or €8 to €10 higher returns on a 20kg carcase.
The trade is being helped by tight supplies and solid demand in domestic and export markets. Factory agents are using mart sales to try to bolster numbers and are willing to drop down on weights to secure lambs.
They are meeting strong opposition from store lamb buyers armed with ample grass supplies. Lowland store lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg are selling anywhere from €80 to €95 with lighter lots weighing 32kg upwards selling from €72 to €80 on average. Crossbred lambs are running €3 to €6 above last year’s returns.
The outlook for the month is looking more positive each day the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha draws nearer. The festival which takes place from the evening of Thursday 30 July to Monday 3 August has underpinned the largest weekly kills in recent years.
Live exporters are also becoming active in recent days in sourcing suitable sheep and this is likely to help to keep a good floor under the trade.
The positive trade is inserting much more confidence into the sector as breeding sales commence.
Tullow Mart’s first breeding sale of 2020 included one of the largest entries for its first sale. Manager Eric Driver said farmers anticipated a strong trade and were keen to show sheep earlier. An entry of 350 hoggets ranged from €175 to €185 for lighter types and as high as €195 to €210 for quality lots.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS