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Sheep price cuts are starting to have an impact on the live trade. Factory agent activity is a little lower than last week and mart managers are saying that the numbers on offer are increasing.
With larger numbers of small-scale farmers drafting lambs, this is adding to numbers and affecting the trade. Over the end of last week, the trade was said to have been quite steady. However, much of the easing of prices has occurred in the past two days.
Mart managers have said that prices are back by €2 to €3/head. However, recent sales have shown more variation in prices. Heavy butchers’ lambs over 50kg are selling from €105 to €114/head, but there are some top-quality heavy lambs making over this.
Fleshed lambs from 45kg to 48kg are selling mainly from €108 to €114/head, back by about €3 to €4/head on last week. Lambs from 42kg to 44kg are selling from €106 to €110/head. Lighter lambs from 40kg to 42kg are firm, with prices ranging mainly from €95 to €105/head, again back on last year.
Store lambs have seen a correction in prices also, with farmer demand seeing prices ease by €2 to €3/head. Lambs from 30kg to 35kg are selling from €70 to €78/head, depending on quality, while those from 35kg to 40kg are selling mainly from €79 to €88/head.
In contrast, cull ewes are still a strong trade. They continue to sell at steady prices of €120 to €145/head and up to €150/head at the top of the market. Plain-quality, thin and broken-mouth ewes are still making from €68 upwards, with some better types selling at similar levels to last week.
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