The sheep trade continues in its recent positive vein of form. Factory agents continue to struggle to get their hands on their required level of throughput and are especially anxious to tie into deals for significant batches of lambs.

This has led to prices reported at the top end of the market strengthening to the tune of 5c/kg to 10c/kg, with prices here ranging from €5.70/kg to €5.80/kg.

Producer groups

Many producer groups also find themselves trading in a similar price environment, with prices at the higher end of the scale achieved for better-conformed U grading lambs.

Deals on carcase weight are variable, with most plants trying to limit paid carcase weight limits at 22.5kg.

Where allowances are given to 23kg carcase weight, it is typically not at the top end of the price range, with agents reluctant to give way in negotiations on price and carcase weight. The exception to this is for very large sale offerings.

Producers with average negotiating power and selling on a pretty regular basis are generally trading lambs for between €5.60/kg and €5.65/kg, while entry-level prices are typically in the region of €5.50/kg to €5.55/kg.

Producers finding it hard to negotiate with factories are, in some cases, opting to show lambs live to take advantage of the firm competition.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is also edging upwards, with numbers tight and a bit more interest shown in ewes by factory agents.

Prices typically range from €2.75/kg to €2.85/kg for ewes traded from producers with average negotiating power.

Regular sellers handling large numbers are pushing for returns of €2.90/kg to €3.00/kg and this is especially evident in agents having greater purchasing power in live sales.

Again, carcase weight limits differ between plants, with upper weight limits set between 40kg and 45kg.