Disruption to the transport distribution network via the UK and into EU markets has been well documented on Monday.

Factories are hopeful that contingency plans will be put in place to lessen the effect of this latest challenge and keep exports running as best as possible.

Most plants were planning this week for a relatively big kill on Monday to get volumes moving ahead of the Christmas break and smaller kills on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Throughput

Reports indicate some plants have revised down their level of throughput for Tuesday, but have arrangements in place to handle higher numbers should any positive developments materialise in the next 24 hours.

Others have plans to handle a smaller kill on Wednesday, but this will also be very much dependent on developments over the next 24 hours.

Prices

Prices for lambs traded on Monday and for Tuesday’s kill are unchanged.

Sellers handling large numbers or selling as part of a group are trading in the region of €5.75/kg to €5.85/kg, with isolated deals reported at a higher price.

Sellers with average negotiating power are trading from €5.65/kg to €5.70/kg, while sellers handling small numbers are selling lambs on an infrequent basis are typically moving quality assured lamb in the region of €5.60/kg to €5.65/kg.

Factories have much of their sheep sourced for this week and have also some big consignments organised for when slaughtering resumes on Tuesday 29 December.

This will take the pressure of having to source sheep over the Christmas period and leave a smaller pool of traders to work with.

IFA sheep chair Sean Dennehy says the industry is working hard on contingency plans that will lessen the effect of the transport disruptions.

He says demand in export markets is holding strong and that this should hold true, with the market requiring a steady supply in the run-up to Christmas and after the Christmas break.

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