Producers are hopeful that lamb prices might soon benefit from a seasonal price increase, but, as yet, there is no major signs of this materialising.

Base quotes this week remain in the region of €6.00/kg to €6.05/kg and while plants are keen for fleshed lambs, there has been no significant shift in prices paid.

Producers trading low numbers individually are typically securing returns of €6.15/kg to €6.20/kg for quality assured lamb.

Those trading through producer groups or with greater negotiating power are pushing returns to €6.30/kg, while at the top end of the market, the highest prices reported including group or conformation bonuses are rising to €6.35/kg to €6.40/kg.

Kildare Chilling has moved to a carcase weight limit of 22kg, while a number of plants in the North are now also officially quoting to 22kg carcase weight.

Reports indicate that there are still some plants trying to open negotiations at 21.5kg, but they are coming under pressure, with more options now in the market.

Producers with good-quality fleshed lambs are meeting firm demand and, in rare cases, producers with top-quality and well-fleshed lambs have negotiated an extra 0.5kg allowance. This has been secured at a lower price of €6.30/kg.

Under-fleshed carcases

Reports also point to continued issues with under-fleshed carcases in the market. This is not surprising given the cost of concentrates and static nature of prices in recent weeks.

Farmers are being advised to take care when drafting lambs, with price deductions of upwards of 70c/kg to €1/kg for lambs killing out at fat class 1 or deemed underweight.

The minimum weight desired varies between plants from 15kg to 17kg and this should be confirmed where there is any doubt before lambs are traded.

Looking at the trade for the corresponding period in 2021 shows that top prices for this week were on the verge of hitting €7/kg. This is leaving a differential of €10 to €12 per head on lambs and is badly missed given the higher finishing costs.

Kill figures

Throughput continues to run significantly ahead of 2021 levels, with last week’s kill rising by over 2,000 head and recorded at 62,482.

The actual increase in the lamb kill is closer to the tune of 3,000 head, with the ewe and ram kill continuing to reduce and recorded at 10,838.

There is significant variation in ewe quotes, which range from as low as €2.70/kg to as high as €3.40/kg. The main lamb plants are typically quoting in the region of €3.00/kg, with Ballon Meats continuing to trend significantly higher. This is confined to top-quality ewes.

Some plants in Northern Ireland moved to pull prices, but this has been resisted. As seen in the quotes table, base quotes range from £5.00/kg (€5.77) to £5.15/kg (€5.94), while at the top end of the market, regular sellers and producers handling large numbers are securing an extra 5p/kg to 10p/kg.