The most significant change in the lamb trade this week is an increase in the carcase weight limit at the two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan.
Both plants increased the carcase weight limit by 0.5kg to 22.5kg on Monday.
No other factory has increased their official carcase weight limit, but the movement in ICM is likely to put pressure on other factories to follow suit.
There is no big change in lamb price, with the general run of base quotes remaining at €7.50/kg to €7.60/kg.
When quality assurance (QA) payments of 10c/kg to 20c/kg are factored in, it leaves opening prices on offer for QA lambs at €7.70/kg.
Groups and regular sellers are securing €7.80/kg, with prices at the top end of the market at €7.85/kg to €7.90/kg, but confined to sellers with the best negotiating power.
Better demand
There are signs of slightly better demand and this is reflected in cases in more bite in the live trade, although prices are not too dissimilar to last week.
A high percentage of lambs weighing from 50kg to 53kg are trading from €164 to €170 on average, with heavier lambs weighing 54kg to 56kg rising to the mid-€170s.
Reports indicate prices in Northern Ireland have firmed to the tune of 2p/kg to 5p/kg.
Prices range from £6.25/kg to £6.35/kg or the equivalent of €7.13/kg to €7.24/kg at Monday evening’s exchange rate of 87.7p to the euro. Sellers trading at the top end of the market are securing £6.40/kg-plus.
The trade in Britain has also moved upwards marginally, with average prices at £6.75/kg (€7.70/kg).
Ewe trade
The ewe trade is largely unchanged, with the general run of quotes ranging from €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg.
Good-quality ewes are selling in such plants to €4.50/kg, while, at the top end of the market, choice ewes are selling to €5/kg in plants and abattoirs specialising in ewes.
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