Prices static as buyers see how the wind blows

AS Hurricane Ophelia battered its way across the country yesterday, sheep farmers and sheep factories both took stock.

A number of sheep plants put employee safety first yesterday and shut up shop before lunch, so their workers could get home with some degree of safety.

For the farming community, it was a case of staying indoors. Farms are dangerous places even when it’s sunny, so yesterday it was highly inadvisable to venture out once the winds had picked up.

What it all meant in the sheep business was that some producer groups were unable to supply stock to processors because of the danger that Ophelia posed to high-sided vehicles.

Even allowing that everybody got into work today, this is in effect a short week, with those supplies not killed yesterday overhanging the trade for the rest of the week.

The situation on price, however, remains largely static, with the two ICM plants quoting an unchanged €4.40/kg+10c/kg quality assurance bonus, while Kildare Chilling also remain unchanged from last week at €4.50/kg+10c/kg.

Maybe it was the result of the loss of electricity up the west coast yesterday, but Dawn Ballyhaunis remain in the dark for the second week as far as their lamb price is concerned, with no quote available, although they continue to quote €2.40/ kg for cull ewes.

Moving down the table on lamb price to €4.50/kg plus 5c/ kg bonus is Kepak Athleague.

Going in the opposite direction are Moyvalley Meats, who this week add 10c/kg to their price for lamb, moving them into top spot on a straight €4.60/kg.

So the best that can be said is that while the two ICM plants continue to prop up the table on €4.40 plus bonuses, they at least have not slipped further.

Kepak and Kildare realistically are neck and neck, while the management at Dawn Ballyhaunis continue to hold their cards close to their chest. I always found, though, that when playing cards you do have to do just that — play them so everyone else can get on with the game.

Unchanged

Quotes for cull ewes are unchanged with all the major players on €2.40/kg.

The IFA reported yesterday that lamb prices ranged from €4.60-4.75/kg, with some €4.80/kg paid towards the end of last week.

ICSA’s John Brooks continues to furiously object to factories using imported lamb and lamb products to manipulate the market-place.

“This practice puts at risk the whole idea of traceability, origin green and quality assurance. It also shows a complete lack of respect for both the producer and the consumer,” Mr Brooks said.