Lamb prices have hardened this week despite the trade being disrupted with factory blockades. With plants in the west closed for two days, factory agents did their best to talk the trade down.

They commented that there would be plenty of lambs due to a backlog from reduced killing capacity. However, lower prices have not materialised, simply because the numbers of finished lambs continue to tighten week by week.

Plants that were operating unaffected by factory blockades continued to pay prices of €4.80/kg to €4.95/kg at the start of this week to both individual sellers and supply groups.

Despite talk of lower quotes of €4.50/kg from processors, supply groups report that they are still working from base prices of €4.60/kg to €4.70/kg this week.

By Wednesday (yesterday), all plants were operating as normal and extremely anxious for lambs. Prices were expected to come under pressure in the west, but it is reported that €5/kg was more widely available yesterday, with one plant paying from 23kg to 24kg carcase weight.

Factories in the midlands and southeast have followed suit and paid €5/kg also, as the usual flow of northern lambs to these plants has slowed. Buying agents for southern plants continue to be extremely competitive in northern marts.

Sheep imported for direct slaughter from Northern Ireland (NI) totalled 7,959 head, which is down 4,000 head on the same week last year. Lambs imported from NI are down almost 2,400 head on the previous week, highlighting how tight supplies are north of the border. For the year-to-date, northern sheep imported for direct slaughter now stands at 309,811 head and continues to run 26% behind 2013 levels.

Factory prices in Northern Ireland are holding steady, with plants working from a base quote of £3.60/kg (€4.80/kg including VAT), with lambs selling at prices of 5p to 10p/kg over base quotes.

In Britain, demand for lamb has strengthened partly on the back of promotional campaigns. Mart prices improved by 7p/kg to 8p/kg (10c/kg), with finished lamb prices averaging £3.75/kg (€4.95/kg including VAT), according to official EBLEX figures.

IFA National Sheep Committee chairman John Lynskey said that with prices strengthening again this week to €5/kg, despite factory closures, it highlights how tight supplies are. He said producers are in a strong selling position and should use this to their advantage when negotiating on sale price.

Processors have commented that fluke is now starting to show in adult sheep and lambs. Producers who are treating animals should pay careful attention to the withdrawal period on flukicides, as withdrawal dates range from four to 60 days for most products on the market.