Sheep
Bord Bia is set to begin an 11-week advertising campaign from next Monday (June 18) to promote new season Irish lamb carrying the 'Quality Assurance' (Q) mark.
Trade for breeding stock has improved at the marts in recent days, with demand for ewe lambs and breeding ewes helping prices.
A tougher trade for factory lambs has been seen at the marts in recent days, with prices back €3-8/head in some locations.
Store lamb prices have eased by €2-3/head in some locations, with large entries reported. However, in the east of the country, store lambs were in very short supply.
Strong trade was reported across the country's marts this week, with factory agents, farmers and butchers all competing for lambs.
Demand has reportedly remained 'firm' despite factory cuts to lamb prices earlier on in the month, mart managers reveal.
Beef
There has been a decrease in sheep sold in marts around the country as farmers are busy with silage and hay, sheep marts report.
Northern exports to southern Irish factories continue to run ahead for 2017, compared to 2016, a Livestock Meat Commission report has found.
Reduced supplies of spring lamb have kept the trade for these lots steady for the week ending October 23.
