The sheep trade has come up against more challenges in recent days.

While factory agent demand in some marts has reduced slightly, so too have Thursday morning’s quotes.

Kildare Chilling’s quote has eased by another 5c/kg, following on from last week’s cut of 5c/kg.

However, this is by no means the lowest quote, with the base of €4.35/kg plus the 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) bonus and paying up to 21.5kg.

The two Irish Country Meats plants in Navan and Camolin have reduced their quotes by 5c/kg to a base quote of €4.35/kg plus the 10c/kg QA bonus.

Kepak Athleague has cut last week’s base of €4.40/kg by 10c/kg to €4.30/kg plus the 15c/kg QA bonus up to 21.5kg.

It is also reported that lambs over 25kg and those in a fat score of 5 are being met with cuts of up to 50c/kg.

Moyvalley has given a flat quote of €4.60/kg, which is up by 10c/kg on last week’s levels. Dawn Ballyhaunis was not available for a quote.

Prices back

While prices overall are back by 5c to 10c/kg and ranging mainly from €4.45/kg to €4.55/kg for individual farmers, the majority of factories are now paying up to 21.5kg carcase weight, but heavy lambs may receive more severe price cuts at some factories.

Farmers with strong negotiation power are securing slightly higher prices of up to 5c/kg over the base or in some cases factories are contributing towards transport. In other cases, carcase limits are running at up to 22kg.

While prices have held up to Wednesday, Thursday’s quotes for groups are ranging mainly from €4.65/kg to €4.75/kg, back by about 5c/kg.

The weekly lamb kill is almost back up to capacity in recent weeks, with last week’s kill was 65,308, back by 1,335 head on last week.

There were 53,844 lambs killed and 11,387 ewes and rams killed.

Compared with the same week last year, the kill is running 2,335 head behind and over 180,000 head behind year to date 2019 versus 2018.

UK prices

Prices in the UK are holding steady. However, there is a knock-on effect being felt of cheaper U grade lamb flooding into the UK at lower prices.

The trade in the North has remained steady once again this week, following a 5p/kg cut last week.

The base quotes are running at £3.40/kg to £3.45/kg (€4.02/kg to €4.08/kg VAT inclusive).

Sheep throughput continues to be limited by the high cattle kill.

The number of sheep exported from Northern Ireland to the south was 8,591 head last week, about 400 head less than the previous week.

The total number exported so far in 2019 stands at 282,843 head.

Read more

SheepWatch: tougher week for lamb prices at marts

NI trends: prices steady as beef kill rises