Lamb prices continue to rise, with most farmers being paid €4.85/kg for their lambs, while others are successfully negotiating prices of €4.90/kg.

Some producer groups are being paid the equivalent of €5/kg when bonus payments are taken into account.

Both Kildare Chilling and Irish Country Meats increased their base quotes as competition for numbers increases. In the marts, fleshed lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg are selling from €100 to €106/head, or €53 to €56 over the weight. This equates to a €2 to €3/head improvement on last week’s returns.

Producers who have lambs on the verge of coming fit for slaughter will have a price of €5/kg in their sights.