Demand for lambs remains sluggish with no significant bite from factory agents.

The majority of plants are operating at an opening price of €7.70/kg for quality assured (QA) lambs.

Groups and regular sellers with greater negotiating power are securing returns of €7.80/kg, while at the top end of the market there are some deals rising to €7.85/kg to €7.90/kg.

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Numbers trading at this level are in the minority with most deals below this level.

Steady trade

Reports from mart sales point to a steady trade with the general run of prices for fleshed lambs weighing from 50kg to 54kg ranging from €168 to €174.

Lambs lacking flesh are selling back to €160 per head, while small numbers of heavier or butcher-type lambs are selling to €175 to €178.

The live trade for cull ewes appears to be slightly sharper with heavy-fleshed ewes selling weighing from 90kg to 100kg selling on average from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg.

While fleshed ewes weighing from 85kg to 90kg are trading from €2.15/kg to €2.35/kg, with some lots hitting €2.40/kg, plus.

Deals

There is no change in factory quotes with the general run ranging from €4.20/kg to €4.40/kg.

There are some deals being negotiated at €4.50/kg, while at the top end of the market, there are small numbers trading in plants or abattoirs specialising in the ewe trade selling to €5/kg.