The spring lamb price has remained relatively unchanged this week, with most factories paying base prices of 530-540c/kg.

Kepak Athleague leads the market with a base price of 540c/kg, while the two Irish Country Meats plants and Kildare Chilling are offering a base price of 530c/kg.

Procurement managers have made it clear that there are plentiful numbers of spring lambs on offer, with one suggesting that if throughput holds at current levels prices could dip further.

Buyers also suggested that the main markets for Irish sheepmeat continue to remain difficult, with increased numbers of spring lamb available on the UK market, while French consumers continue to focus on domestically produced lamb.

Like new season lamb, the cast ewe price has also remained at a similar level to last week, with most plants offering 240-250c/kg for factory fit lots.

Speaking to Agriland, IFA Sheep Committee Chairman John Lynskey said that UK consumers were slow to make to switch to spring lamb and as a result, the Irish market suffered.

However, he said that factories are actively looking for lambs for slaughter and this is leading to some farmers being paid prices up and above the base price offered.

Spring lamb prices:

  • ICM Camolin: 530c/kg
  • ICM Navan: 530c/kg
  • Kepak Athleague: 540c/kg
  • Kildare Chilling: 530c/kg

Spring lamb throughput jumps 33%

The number of spring lambs slaughtered at Department of Agriculture approved sheepmeat export plants jumped 33% during the week ending May 22.

Just over 30,000 spring lambs were slaughtered, up 7,647 head compared to the 22,898 spring lambs slaughtered during the week ending May 15.

However, official figures show that the sheep kill during the week ending May 22 was 3% (1,466 head) lower than the week before.

This is mainly due to a fall in hogget throughput, with 8,827 fewer hoggets slaughtered compared to the week ending May 15.

Department figures also show some decline in cast throughput, with 288 fewer ewes and rams slaughtered.

Main markets

According to Bord Bia, the British spring lamb trade has eased slightly on the back of a higher new season lamb throughput last week.

Live lambs on the SQQ English and Welsh market made the equivalent of around €5.54/kg last week, it shows.

It also says that there has been little change in the French trade, as supplies of French dairy and Spanish lamb have remained competitively priced on the market.

However, the EU lamb promotional campaign began this week and it is hoped that it will help increase the demand for Irish lamb on a number of key markets.