Sheep trade: Some stability restored to the lamb market

As it stands, lamb buyers are currently offering a base price of 480-490c/kg (excluding Quality Assurance Scheme and producer group bonuses) for spring lambs, thus leaving prices on par with last week.

However, the Irish Farmers’ Association’s Sean Dennehy outlined that 500c/kg is available. He noted that the trade has steadied this week and supplies are tighter, with the main issue being under-finished lambs.

Dennehy also highlighted that some plants are taking advantage of the drought conditions and are going way too severe on price cuts for underweight lambs. He said imposing severe cuts at anything below 17kg is too severe in the current environment.

Some procurement managers have continued to highlight that 16kg is the minimum carcass weight and have asked farmers not to kill lambs less than 40kg (liveweight), highlighting that kill-out percentage could be as low as 40%.

Although there is no change in lamb quotes, the ewe market appears to have come under pressure and quotes are sitting at the 260-270c/kg mark – down from 280-290c/kg last week.

Throughput

Some 49,006 lambs were processed in Department of Agriculture approved sheepmeat export plants during the week ending July 15 – down 2,784 head on the previous week.

However, a supply increase was witnessed in the cast (ewe and ram) category (up 1,029 head), while hogget numbers also declined (down 227 head) during the same week.

Furthermore, overall throughput declined during the week ending July 15; some 60,303 sheep were slaughtered in plants across the country – a decrease of 1,982 head on the previous week’s kill.

In addition, figures from the department also show that over 1.48 million sheep have been processed in approved plants between January 1 and July 15, 2018.

Hogget and cast slaughterings have witnessed increases – up 21,702 head and 42,358 head respectively. Meanwhile, spring lamb numbers are down by 52,559 head on the corresponding period in 2017.

Mart trade round-up

Carnew Mart

Some 2,125 sheep passed through the ring at Carnew Mart, Co. Wicklow on Thursday last (July 19). A firm trade was reported for all classes with prices similar to the previous week’s sale.

There was a good demand for ewe lambs and cull ewes, while breeding ewes made a top call of €170/head.  On the day, hoggets sold for €140-170/head, while older breeding ewes made €80-130/head.

According to the mart manager, David Quinn, heavy cull ewes traded for €88-117/head, while lighter lots sold for €45-80/head.

Kilkenny Mart

A smaller sale of sheep took place at Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill, on Monday, prices increased by €3-6/head on the previous week’s sale, according to the mart’s auctioneer, George Candler.

He also noted that cull ewes proved popular, with prices increasing by €4-7/head.

In addition, cast ewes traded at €63-125/head.

Raphoe Mart

Monday, July 16, saw a lively trade for all sheep at Raphoe Mart in Co. Donegal, according to the mart’s manager, Anne Harkin.

Dry ewes were reported to trade at €60-115/head.

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