Most mart managers report a similar trend to this week’s sales – agents are reluctant to compete with greater intensity for finished lambs in light of recent factory price pressure and variable demand.
The general run of prices for finished lambs weighing upwards of 50kg is in the region of €166 to €172/head. There are some lots exceeding this range and rising to €175/head and higher. Some lambs lacking flesh cover are selling back to the low-€160s.
Potential slaughter performance is having a marked influence on price, with a differential of up to €10/head evident between lambs of a similar weight.
A few mart managers report that pressure on finished lamb prices has tempered demand for store lambs, which is in contrast to other marts which report steady prices boosted by good grass supplies.
Lowland store lambs weighing from 37kg to 40kg and upwards are trading on average from €3.65/kg to €3.85/kg, with occasional lots of top-quality lots sparking a bidding war between farmers leading prices to €3.90/kg to €4/kg.
The price per kilo paid for lighter lambs is stronger, with more good-quality lambs falling within a price range of €3.70/kg to €3.90/kg, while plain-quality lambs are falling back in cases to €3/kg to €3.20/kg for long-keep hill crosses.
Good-quality ewe lambs with breeding potential range from €4/kg to €4.50/kg and rising to €5/kg in normal sales and higher in special sales.
Average hogget prices are lower as quality declines. There are more reports of hoggets selling from €225 to €270 for medium-sized and lighter-framed lots, but good-quality lots continue to sell from €270 to €330 and as high as €370 to €400 in special sales.
The trade for ewes is largely unchanged, with a price range of €2.25/kg to €2.40/kg accounting for a significant percentage of heavier ewes.
Small numbers of excellent-quality lots are hitting €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg for top-quality lots.
Prices for plainer-quality and feeding ewes are in the region of €2/kg to €2.10/kg, with ewes lacking significant flesh ranging from €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg and back to €1/kg for light poor-quality hill ewes.
Most mart managers report a similar trend to this week’s sales – agents are reluctant to compete with greater intensity for finished lambs in light of recent factory price pressure and variable demand.
The general run of prices for finished lambs weighing upwards of 50kg is in the region of €166 to €172/head. There are some lots exceeding this range and rising to €175/head and higher. Some lambs lacking flesh cover are selling back to the low-€160s.
Potential slaughter performance is having a marked influence on price, with a differential of up to €10/head evident between lambs of a similar weight.
A few mart managers report that pressure on finished lamb prices has tempered demand for store lambs, which is in contrast to other marts which report steady prices boosted by good grass supplies.
Lowland store lambs weighing from 37kg to 40kg and upwards are trading on average from €3.65/kg to €3.85/kg, with occasional lots of top-quality lots sparking a bidding war between farmers leading prices to €3.90/kg to €4/kg.
The price per kilo paid for lighter lambs is stronger, with more good-quality lambs falling within a price range of €3.70/kg to €3.90/kg, while plain-quality lambs are falling back in cases to €3/kg to €3.20/kg for long-keep hill crosses.
Good-quality ewe lambs with breeding potential range from €4/kg to €4.50/kg and rising to €5/kg in normal sales and higher in special sales.
Average hogget prices are lower as quality declines. There are more reports of hoggets selling from €225 to €270 for medium-sized and lighter-framed lots, but good-quality lots continue to sell from €270 to €330 and as high as €370 to €400 in special sales.
The trade for ewes is largely unchanged, with a price range of €2.25/kg to €2.40/kg accounting for a significant percentage of heavier ewes.
Small numbers of excellent-quality lots are hitting €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg for top-quality lots.
Prices for plainer-quality and feeding ewes are in the region of €2/kg to €2.10/kg, with ewes lacking significant flesh ranging from €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg and back to €1/kg for light poor-quality hill ewes.
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