The sheep trade is starting this week off like it finished last: Uneasy.
Some factories have held prices from last week while others have eased their offering for lambs.
At current base prices, there is a 20c/kg difference from the lowest to the highest base prices on offer from meat processing plants.
Base quotes for lambs, from the factories that offered a quote, at the start of this week are ranging from €6.00-6.20/kg.
The above quoted prices are the same to what was on the table, largely, a year ago from factories for lambs when base prices were back down to €6.00/kg as well.
Factories
Kildare Chilling is out in front with a base price of €6.20/kg plus a 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) bonus. A price of €5.20/kg is being paid out for lambs killing out under 16kg by Kildare Chilling.
Irish Country Meats is on a base price of €6.00/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus. While reports from other plants point base prices for tomorrow (Wednesday, September 7) also at €6.00/kg.
This is leaving prices for quality assured lambs at €6.10-6.30/kg.
Prices at the top end of the market are ranging from €6.30-6.40/kg in general – and up to €6.50/kg in cases.
The ewe trade is coming under further pressure, with base quotes falling back to €3.10/kg in cases.
Quotes from other plants are ranging from €3.20/kg up to €3.30/kg.
‘€7.00/kg needed for lambs’
Lamb prices need to be at €7.00/kg in order for farmers to make any sort of profit, the sheep chair of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association, Sean McNamara has said.
Speaking to Agriland, Sean said: “At current lamb prices of around €6/kg, there is no profitability in sheep farming at a time when all input costs have gone off the charts.
“€7.00/kg at the moment is what is needed for lamb and unfortunately, we are a long way off that now.
“The sheep processing sector will not be sustainable if sheep farmers here cannot make a profit, and there are already signs of significant culling of ewes.”