There is a variable start to the week for lamb prices, with factory quotes facing further pressure, while some marts have seen prices rally.

Factories have reduced base quotes by 30c/kg and are all on a similar base quote of €9/kg plus their respective quality assurance payments of 15c/kg to 20c/kg.

Producers with lower negotiating power are being offered a starting price of €9.20/kg, but many are having success in pushing returns of €9.30/kg.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is similar for producer groups, with some groups being paid €9.40/kg by means of a higher bonus payment mechanism.

Reports also indicate that lamb supplies are relatively tight, with some regular sellers still trading in the region of upwards of €9.40/kg.

The extra negotiating power of factory agents is also evident in many sales, where prices are trending ahead of equivalent deadweight prices.

This is especially the case for heavier lambs, which are attracting the attention of wholesale buyers. This is demonstrated below in sales held in Kilkenny and Ennis on Monday.

Northern Ireland

Factories in Northern Ireland have dropped base quotes below the £8/kg (€9.27/kg) mark.

Some plants are trying to open negotiations at £7.70/kg to £7.80/kg (€8.93/kg to €9.04/kg), but are having success in securing another 10p/kg out of the market, with regular sellers still being paid £8/kg.

Kilkenny Mart

Kilkenny mart auctioneer George Candler reported that lambs in Monday’s sale increased anywhere from €3 to €8 per head.

The increase in price stemmed from a relatively small sale of just shy of 300 head generating more competition between butcher and wholesale buyers and factory agents.

The general run of prices for good-quality lambs weighing 48kg to 49kg ranged from €195 to €202 per head.

Heavier lambs weighing in excess of 50kg sold from €206 to €226 on several occasions, with few standout prices. A batch of seven Suffolk lambs weighing 57kg sold for €238, while a pair of Charollais lambs weighing 65kg hit €245.

Prices paid for lighter lambs were highly dependent on potential slaughter performance. For example, a couple of batches of lambs weighing 45kg sold for €176 for average-quality lots and €190 for young well-fleshed lambs.

Ennis Mart

Clare Marts' sales yard in Ennis also experienced a much sharper trade on Monday, with prices rising by up to €5 per head on the previous week.

Sale numbers were small with 370 sheep on offer. The mart commented that the increase in price was helped by an increased number of excellent-quality lambs on offer.

Prices ranging from €224 to €236 were paid for heavy well-conformed lambs weighing 56kg to upwards of 60kg.

There was also a few batches of super-quality lambs weighing 52kg to 54kg selling from €220 to €228 per head and a standout price of €232 for Charollais lambs weighing 52kg.

Lambs weighing 44kg to 45kg sold from €170 to €184, with flesh cover having a huge influence on price.

Watch

This batch of 11 top-quality Charollais-cross lambs weighing 52kg sold for €232 (€4.46/kg) in Ennis Mart.

These well-fleshed lambs weighing 48kg on average sold for €207 (€4.31/kg).

This pen of 19 Charollais-cross lambs weighing 47kg sold for €206 (€4.31/kg).

Weighing 53kg, this batch of five mixed breed lambs sold for €228 (€4.30/kg).

These lambs weighing 46kg sold for €200 (€4.35/kg).

These store lambs weighing 35kg sold for €141 (€4.03/kg).

Weighing 48.5kg, these quality lambs sold for €214 (€4.41/kg).