Sheep producers continue to face significant challenges in marketing lambs.
Base quotes for Monday and Tuesday have fallen by 20c/kg to 30c/kg since last Thursday, with all plants working in the region of an €8/kg opening base quotes – plus their respective 15c/kg to 20c/kg quality assurance payments.
Groups and regular sellers are receiving €8.30/kg, while there are smaller numbers trading at €8.35/kg to €8.40/kg.
Factory procurement agents continue to only quote a couple of days in advance, with most only quoting for Monday and Tuesday and not locking into any price for lambs booked in for slaughtering from Wednesday onwards.
They say supplies coming on stream continue to trend ahead of demand, despite throughput running well below the five-year average for the time of year.
The ewe trade remains steady with many plants trying to encourage farmers to trade heavier ewes direct for slaughter, with a high percentage destined for the live trade.
General price range
Some are paying to 50kg carcase weight, while others are offering a higher price for heavier ewes.
The general price range in most plants remains at €5/kg to €5.30/kg – with plants and abattoirs most active in the ewe trade paying to €5.50/kg.
There seems to be a slightly steadier tone to the trade in Northern Ireland, helped by keen demand from agents purchasing sheep for exporting live.
Reports indicate agents purchasing sheep for exporting to Britain and Ireland have been active in recent days.
Base quotes are averaging in the region of £6.70/kg to £6.80/kg, similar to the end of last week, but agents are still trying to condition producers to further price cuts.
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