There has been a sharp drop-off in sheep processing activity in recent days. Many farmers have responded to a significant reduction in prices on offer and delayed drafting for a period.

Some farmers who moved lambs at lighter carcase weights in recent weeks are now letting lambs run into higher carcase weights in a bid to compensate for the lower price on offer.

Base quotes

Factories remain keen for sheep, but are digging their heels in on price. Base quotes range from €4.80/kg to €4.90/kg, with a high percentage of quality assured (QA) lambs traded by individual sellers trading in the region of €5.00/kg to €5.05/kg.

A stand-off has developed between some larger suppliers and factory agents, with both parties unwilling to move from their position.

Reports indicate some producers and those trading through groups are in a slightly stronger selling position, with some agents succumbing to the pressure and increasing prices paid by 5c/kg. This leaves top-priced deals ranging from €5.10/kg to €5.15/kg and 5c/kg higher in cases.

Kildare Chilling

Kildare Chilling’s closure due to an outbreak of coronavirus has reduced competition in the market.

The fact that numbers are tight means the closure could have happened at a worse time, but farmers will still want to see the factory open as soon as possible.

The factory has advised farmers with lambs to sell that they are still awaiting results of coronavirus testing and, at present, do not know when it will resume processing. As such, it is encouraging farmers with lambs fit to sell them elsewhere if they wish.

Flying cull ewe trade

The tighter numbers in the market was reflected in Kilkenny Mart on Monday with auctioneer George Candler reporting on a smaller entry of 420 head.

Lamb prices were reported as being €2 to €4 easier on the week, with butcher-type lambs weighing upwards of 48kg selling on average from €110 to €116, while a pen of top-quality lambs weighing 55kg sold for €122.

Lambs weighing 42kg to 45kg were reported as trading from €96 to €101 on average, while store lambs weighing 38kg to 41kg sold from €90 to €94.

Cull ewes were described as an excellent trade, with feeding ewes selling from €86 upwards and large-framed cull ewes selling from €120 to a top price of €136.