Factory price cuts averaging in the region of 10c/kg are being felt to varying degrees in the live trade.
Many mart managers report the trade holding steady this week, particularly where numbers are tight, while others report prices easing by an average of €1 to €2/head.
A significant differential remains between lambs of a similar weight and varying level of finish.
The general run of prices for well-fleshed lambs weighing upwards of 50kg is from €170 to €173, with top-quality and heavier lambs rising to €177 and upwards of €180 in isolated cases for very heavy types.
In contrast, some lambs short of flesh and ram lambs with poorer slaughter potential are selling back to the mid- to low-€160s. Ewe lambs with breeding potential continue to secure a premium on price.
The trade for store lambs is trending in the region of €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg for a high percentage of lowland stores. This can vary up or down 10c to 15c/kg depending on the quality of lamb, with lots containing ewe lambs of nice quality rising to €3.90/kg and upwards of €4/kg for top-quality lots.
Some mart managers report a firming in demand for such lambs over the last week and comment that payments under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability have inserted more bite into the trade in cases.
Hill lambs are trading anywhere from €3/kg to €3.40/kg depending on quality, with some horned lambs with poor potential dropping under the €3/kg mark.
Ewe lambs remain capable of selling to €4/kg-plus.
The trade for cull ewes is unchanged. A price range of €1.90/kg to €2/kg is buying a high percentage of fleshed heavier ewes, with the best-quality lots rising to €2.10/kg to €2.15/kg.
There are few ewes rising above €200 to €220/head, with the exception of excellent-quality lots.
Feeding ewes are from €1.70/kg to €2/kg, with demand firm, while hill ewes and boner-type crossbred and lowland ewes are selling from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg back to €1/kg and lower for poor-quality lots.
Factory price cuts averaging in the region of 10c/kg are being felt to varying degrees in the live trade.
Many mart managers report the trade holding steady this week, particularly where numbers are tight, while others report prices easing by an average of €1 to €2/head.
A significant differential remains between lambs of a similar weight and varying level of finish.
The general run of prices for well-fleshed lambs weighing upwards of 50kg is from €170 to €173, with top-quality and heavier lambs rising to €177 and upwards of €180 in isolated cases for very heavy types.
In contrast, some lambs short of flesh and ram lambs with poorer slaughter potential are selling back to the mid- to low-€160s. Ewe lambs with breeding potential continue to secure a premium on price.
The trade for store lambs is trending in the region of €3.40/kg to €3.55/kg for a high percentage of lowland stores. This can vary up or down 10c to 15c/kg depending on the quality of lamb, with lots containing ewe lambs of nice quality rising to €3.90/kg and upwards of €4/kg for top-quality lots.
Some mart managers report a firming in demand for such lambs over the last week and comment that payments under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability and Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability have inserted more bite into the trade in cases.
Hill lambs are trading anywhere from €3/kg to €3.40/kg depending on quality, with some horned lambs with poor potential dropping under the €3/kg mark.
Ewe lambs remain capable of selling to €4/kg-plus.
The trade for cull ewes is unchanged. A price range of €1.90/kg to €2/kg is buying a high percentage of fleshed heavier ewes, with the best-quality lots rising to €2.10/kg to €2.15/kg.
There are few ewes rising above €200 to €220/head, with the exception of excellent-quality lots.
Feeding ewes are from €1.70/kg to €2/kg, with demand firm, while hill ewes and boner-type crossbred and lowland ewes are selling from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg back to €1/kg and lower for poor-quality lots.
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