The lamb trade remains in a constant state, with base quotes unchanged at €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg.
When quality assurance payments of 10c/kg to 20c/kg are added into the quote, it leaves opening prices for QA lambs in the region of €7.80/kg.
Groups and regular sellers continue to secure 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.
Groups with a higher bonus payment system and some regular sellers or agents with greater negotiating power are, in cases, securing top prices of €7.95/kg to €8/kg-plus.
This is confined to such deals, with procurement agents maintaining a hard stance when it comes to negotiations on price.
No weight movement
There is also no movement on weight limits. This contrasts with last year, when weight limits edged upwards at this time of the year, but then subsequently faced downward pressure.
The ewe trade is also static, with a big differential remaining between the majority of plants and plants or abattoirs specialising in the ewe trade.
The general run of prices is €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg, with plants operating at the top end of the market paying upwards of €5/kg.
Northern trade
The trade in Northern Ireland is also unchanged, with plants quoting a base of £6.40/kg to £6.45/kg or the equivalent of €7.38/kg to €7.44/kg.
Regular sellers and groups are being paid 10p/kg to 15p/kg above base quotes.
Agents purchasing sheep for export to Britain are slightly more active, but numbers exported remain small.
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