This is a subscriber-only article
The sheep trade is steady, with demand holding firm right up to break in processing for Easter.
Quotes for Thursday are unchanged on last week’s levels and range from a base of €5.80/kg to €5.90/kg, with Moyvalley Meats the exception with its all-in quote of €6/kg.
Prices paid range on average from €6.00/kg to €6.10/kg, with regular sellers and specialist finishers handling large numbers and possessing much greater negotiating power securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg extra.
Demand for spring lambs is variable, with plants working to fill orders rather than looking to maximise spring lamb throughput. This is reflected in all plants, with the exception of Moyvalley not quoting for spring lamb.
Reports last week showed some plants trying to purchase spring lambs for €6.80/kg, but numbers traded for this price were low, with producers seeking alternative factory outlets and, in cases, opting to market lambs in mart sales.
These factories were forced to increase their offer to €7/kg this week to secure sales.
Moyvalley is quoting €7.20/kg for spring lambs, while processors and wholesalers in the west were at a similar level of €7/kg to €7.20/kg.
Last week’s kill reduced by just 3,739 head to 54,822, despite a day’s less processing.
The number of spring lambs processed increased by 1,595, but was still low at 1,953 head.
The reduction in the weekly kill was nearly equivalent to fewer imports from Northern Ireland for direct slaughter, with numbers travelling south reduced by 2,913 head to 7,783 sheep.
The figure was also limited by northern plants increasing activity and raising prices to secure sales.
Quotes in northern plants remain unchanged at £5.05/kg, which is the equivalent of €5.76/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €6.07/kg including VAT at 5.4%. LMC’s weekly price bulletin shows plants paying much higher, with an average price of £5.19/kg listed (€6.25/kg).
The British trade also strengthened considerably, with the AHDB reporting last week’s average hogget price increasing 18p/kg, with R3 grading hoggets averaging £5.33/kg (€6.41/kg VAT inclusive).
Meanwhile, the trade in France is reported as stable, with good market conditions. Prices are reported as increasing by 20c/kg to 30c/kg over the last three weeks and currently range from €6.40/kg to €6.50/kg for hoggets.
Spring lambs are reported as selling from €7/kg to €7.50/kg, with supply said to be tight on the Rungis market at the start of the week. There is strong demand for forequarter cuts (shoulders in particular), with the trade for hindquarter cuts said to be more difficult due to competition from New Zealand lamb.
SHARING OPTIONS: