Continued positivity in the sheep trade sees up to €7.80/kg available in cases at the higher-end of the price scale at the start of this week for finished lambs.
Despite operating off a lower quote than what is available at the top-end of the trade, most factories have increased their quote by 10c/kg this week and are opening their offerings for the week at €7.60-7.70/kg when the quality assurance (QA) bonus is included.
Despite some talk of the ewe trade tightening a little, up to €4.40/kg is available in Co. Carlow for top-end fat ewes with other outlets offering €3.90-4.00/kg for ewes.
Latest sheep kill figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show the total lamb kill is down 97,000 head or 9% to date this year.
Sheep trade at Kilkenny mart
Kilkenny Mart hosted its weekly sheep sale on Monday, November 4, with 800 sheep on offer.
According to a sale report from mart management, there was a 100% clearance in the sale with the top price on the day going to eight butcher lambs with an average weight of 63kg that made €202/head or €3.21/kg.
Factory lambs made from €3.45-3.95/kg or €145-174/head. Eight lambs with an average weight of 41kg made €3.61/kg or €148/head. Another pen of 10 lambs with an average weight 47kg made €3.49/kg or €164/head.
Store lambs weighing from 30-40kg made from €3.50-€4.27/kg or €145-174/head. A pen of seven lambs with an average weight of 44kg made €3.95/kg or €174/head. Cull ewes made from €80-€215/head.