Prices remain stable across the board

PRICE for sheep, whether cull ewe, hogget or spring lamb, is similar or has marginally improved on last week - although in one case yesterday, spring lamb was actually quoted at 10c/kg less.

In the factories, prices are at €5.20-€5.25/kg, while John Lynskey of IFA is more bullish stating that “some top prices of €5.35/kg have been paid”.

The spring lamb trade appears very quiet with prices ranging from €6.20-6.40/kg, while cull ewes hold ground from €2.80-3.20/kg.

Difficult trading conditions at factories wasn’t helped by increased numbers of British lamb coming on stream as their flock expands.

Bord Bia’s latest analysis shows overall throughputs at export meat plants for the week ending March 24 stood at almost 47,000 head — down 4pc or almost 2,000 head on the same week in 2016.

Hoggets totalled around 41,000 head, with adult sheep reaching almost 6,000 head. Cumulative figures for the year to date are up over 45,000 head, or 8pc, compared to the same period in 2016 at 580,000 head.

Factory quotes yesterday recorded “marginal” improvement from Kildare Chilling with a 5c/kg increase in the price to €5.00 plus 10c/kg bonus, leaving them tied for first place on hoggets with Moyvalley Meats all in €5.10/kg price.

Second place sees both ICM plants and Kepak Athleague on €5/kg, although Kepak shades it as their base is €4.95/kg plus 5c/kg, while the ICMs work off of a base of €4.90 and then a bonus of 10c/kg.

Dawn Ballyhaunis are not far off at €4.90/kg plus 5c/kg, but the pace is slower than the same time in recent years.

Spring lamb

Trade for spring lamb this week sees Moyvalley Meats ease their quote from last week of €6.20/ kg ‘all in’ back 10c/kg to €6.10/ kg all in.

The ICM plants continue unchanged from last week on a base of €6/kg plus 10c/kg quality bonus.

Kepak Athleague also leave their price for springs alone at last week’s €6/kg as Bertie Mannions replacement, Ronan Collins begins his tenure by not rocking the boat.

Dawn Ballyhaunis did not quote yesterday for spring lamb.

Official quotes for cull ewes sees Dawn Ballyhaunis lift their price by 10c/kg to €2.80/kg, which aligns them with everybody on the sheep table below with the exception of Kepak Athleague.

They remain unchanged on an official quote of €2.80/kg plus 5c/kg bonus, which leaves them the leader in the field for the second consecutive week.