The lamb trade, and particularly the prices paid for factory and butcher lambs, has taken a turn for the worse in recent days.

Mart Managers are reporting some easing in the prices being achieved for butcher and factory lambs, with prices down by €2-7/head.

Lamb prices have also eased in factories, as a number of plants have dropped quotes by 5c/kg for this week.

Kilkenny Mart

Butcher and factory lambs met a tougher trade in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill on Monday according to the Auctioneer George Candler.

Candler said the prices achieved for these lots was €4-6/head lower then the previous week’s sale, but store lambs and cast ewes remained a steady trade with prices similar to last week.

Butcher and factory lambs met a much tougher trade, he said, and these lots sold from €1.90-2.05/kg and €2.00-2.11/kg.

But despite the dip in heavy lamb prices, the store lamb trade remained solid with prices ranging from €1.95-2.22/kg, while the cast ewes on offer peaked at €99/head.

Sample lamb prices:

57kg: €109 or €1.91/kg
53kg: €108 or €2.04/kg
49kg: €100 or €2.04/kg
45kg: €94 or €2.09/kg
42kg: €91 or €2.17/kg
37kg: €82 or €2.22/kg

Raphoe Mart

There was a good trade for the sheep on offer in Raphoe Mart’s final sheep sale of the year, according to the Mart Manager Anne Harkin.

The heavy lambs on offer traded from €1.85-2.10/kg, while the factory lots sold from €2.05-2.11/kg and the store lambs on offer traded from €2.07-2.18/kg.

Sample lamb prices:

60kg: €111 or €1.85/kg
48kg: €100 or €2.08/kg
46kg: €95 or €2.11/kg
41kg: €85 or €2,07/kg
36kg: €76 or €2.11/kg
33kg:  €72 or €2.18/kg

There was also a good clearance of springing ewes, she said, and these lots traded from €140-215/head, while the cast ewes on offer made €40-103 each.

Carnew Mart

The was a large entry of sheep on offer in Carnew Mart on Thursday, and according to the Mart Manager David Quinn heavy lamb prices were back by €2/head.

Butcher lambs traded from €2.04-2.18/kg, while factory lambs weighing 45-49kg made between €93-101 each.

Like other venues, Quinn said there was very strong demand for store lambs and these lots sold from €65-95 each, while the cast ewes on offer made €65-113/head.

Sample lamb prices:

47kg: €101 or €2.15/kg
39kg: €93.50 or €2.40/kg
48kg: €82.50 or €1.72/kg
61kg: €107 or €1.75/kg
45kg: €97 or €2.16/kg
40kg: €93 or €2.33/kg

Mountbellew Mart

There was a large number of sheep on offer in Mountbellew Mart on Saturday, where factory lambs met with a similar trade to the week before.

Heavy lambs generally traded from €1.94-2.05/kg, while store lambs met with an improved trade with strong demand for all lots on offer.

Sample lamb prices:

61kg: €106.50 or €1.75/kg
44.3kg: €88 or €1.99/kg
48.8kg: €100 or €2.05/kg
47kg: €2.02/kg
45.6kg: €93 or €2.00/kg
51.6kg: €100 or €1.94/kg

There was also a number of in-lamb ewes on offer and these lots traded from €148-175/head, while the cast ewes on offer met a slightly easier trade and sold from €70-108/head.