Sheep producers continue to face challenges in marketing lambs, with both finished lamb prices and store lambs under renewed pressure.
Opening quotes have reduced this week by 20c/kg in some plants leaving all plants now offering an opening quote of €8/kg for quality assured lambs.
Groups are trading in the region of €8.10/kg, but securing prices above this level has become increasingly challenging as the week progresses.
Factories are blaming an oversupply of lambs in the market and subdued demand in key export markets.
Ewe quotes have also reduced by 20c/kg and range from €4.80/kg to €5.30/kg.
Farmers in Northern Ireland are facing a similarly frustrating outlook, with quotes falling by 10p/kg to 20p/kg and ranging from £6.60/kg to £6.70/kg (€7.73/kg to €7.85/kg).
In contrast breeding sales are performing relatively positive with top hoggets exceeding the €300/head mark and selling to €340/head on average, while plainer-quality types are selling anywhere from €220 to €290/head.
SHARING OPTIONS