The recent rise in lamb quotes has ceased with processors moving to take a hold of the market. However, farmers are encouraged to bargain hard when it comes to marketing their animals.

This week, many procurement managers are starting negotiations with farmers at 520c/kg (excluding quality assurance (QA) and producer group bonuses) for lambs.

When QA payments are factored in, this brings prices to 530-535c/kg, while factory agents are currently offering 260-270c/kg (excluding Quality Assurance Scheme bonus) for well-fleshed ewes.

Throughput

Lamb throughput at Department of Agriculture approved plants stood at 35,353 for the week ending February 10; that’s a decrease of 61 head on the week before.

Cast (ewe and ram) slaughterings fell by 1,981 head to reach 6,639 head.

Moreover, overall supplies decreased by 2,043 head – amounting to 41,992 head. Cumulative figures for the year-to-date have reached 289,723 head. This is an increase of 41,991 head compared to the same period in 2018.

Mart trade

Tullow Mart

Over 1,400 hoggets were on offer at Tullow Mart last Tuesday (February 12). Heavy hoggets (>53kg) sold from €128/head to €134/head, while the majority sold for between €129/head and €131/head.

Lighter, store-fleshed hoggets sold from a base of €80/head, while hoggets between 37kg and 42kg sold from €98/head; 44-45kg hoggets sold up to a price of €115/head.

Cast ewes were reported to be €1-2/head easier than the previous week’s sale.

Roscommon Mart

Finished lambs sold for a top price of €126/head – weighing 57.1kg – at Roscommon Mart last Wednesday (February 13).

Cast ewes ranged in price from €30/head to €110/head. Some sample prices from Roscommon Mart are detailed below.

Kilkenny Mart

A smaller number of sheep went under the hammer at Kilkenny Mart on Monday last, February 18. The prices were reported to be back €4-7/head on the previous week’s sale.

Butcher lambs were reported to sell for €110-127/head or €2.15-2.35/kg and factory lambs sold for €100-113/head or €2.20-2.55/kg; store lambs made €78-99/head or €2.30-2.65/kg.

In addition, cast ewes sold to a top price of €70-110/head.