ICM plants up their quotes by 10c/kg

THE two ICM plants at Camolin and Navan have increased their lamb quotes by 10c this week to €4.50+10c/kg quality assurance.

This sees them close within 5c/kg of Kildare Chilling and Kepak Athleague both of whom remain on a €4.55+10c/ kg bonus. Dawn Ballyhaunis who were off the radar over the last few weeks are right back in the mix this week with their quote also of €4.50/ kg and 5c/kg bonus. Moyvalley Meats also move upwards but only by 5c/kg onto 4.60/ kg, but that’s still 5c/kg more in the farmer’s pocket than was there last week.

Once it was clear that a 10c/kg rise for factory lambs was in the pipeline last week, lamb prices at the marts moved up by €1-2/hd.

There is a general acceptance among factory buyers that numbers are beginning to tighten but John Brooks of the ICSA says it will be next week before you can really tell how much the trade has moved on.

“There is no doubt that numbers are tightening and prices did lift towards the end of last week to €4.80/kg for bigger lots, but because this is a short week some of the factories are going to try to play hardball again on price”.

He added that as of yesterday prices for lamb were generally still in the €4.70-4.75/kg area but that while €4.80/kg was still being mentioned, it was far harder got.

This will be a setback for those who predicted €4.90/ kg as being possible by next weekend.

Prices for cull ewes remain unchanged with all plants with an interest in them continuing to pay €2.40/ kg — with various bonuses in Kildare and Kepak.

The mart trade is currently being dominated by the store trade as both sheep and beef men go toe-to-toe ringside.

How farmers will behave on any given day when it comes to getting what they take a fancy to was well illustrated by two buyers bidding a batch of 51kg lambs into €131/hd at Mountbellew last week.

BECAUSE THIS IS A SHORT WEEK SOME OF THE FACTORIES ARE GOING TO TRY AND PLAY HARDBALL AGAIN ON PRICE