The sheep trade remains steady this week, with opening prices on offer for quality assured lambs in the region of €8.10/kg.
A high percentage of sellers and producer groups are being paid €8.15/kg to €8.20/kg, with regular sellers securing returns rising to €8.25/kg.
At the top end of the market, there are select deals being completed at €8.30/kg, with such deals confined to producers handling large numbers on a regular basis.
There are sporadic reports of such sellers securing payment to 23kg carcase weight, but, by and large, factories continue to resist pressure to pay to heavier weights.
NI trade
Prices in Northern Ireland are also unchanged in the main. Base quotes remain at £6.85/kg to £6.90/kg, which, at Monday evening’s exchange rate of 83.5p to the euro, equates to €8.21/kg to €8.27/kg.
Groups and sellers trading at the top end of the market are negotiating £7/kg (€8.39/kg).
Carcase weight limits are 0.5kg lower at 22kg, but there are regular sellers negotiating to 22.5kg carcase weight.
Ewe trade
There is also no change in the ewe trade. The general run of prices in the larger factories is €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg, with some deals being negotiated to €4.60/kg to €4.70/kg for top-quality ewes.
Top prices in plants and abattoirs active for top-quality ewes are upwards of €5/kg.
