Sheep Technical
This weeks sheep trade saw reductions of up to 30c/kg on factory quotes for spring lambs after brief market positivity
Sheep
The September lamb trade has begun in a similar fashion to last month, while ewe prices are seeing a reduction this week.
ICSA (Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association) sheep chair Willie Shaw has criticised meat processors for continuing to pull lamb prices.
With continued cuts to prices in the sheep trade occurring weekly, quotes for spring lambs are close to the prices being offered a year ago.
Prices in the sheep trade this week have continued to increase across the spring lamb, hogget, and ewe quotes from factories.
While spring lamb numbers this early in the year are remaining scarce, those being processed are fetching increased prices from processors.
The condition of lambs in factories has been described as good, but prices in the trade mean lambs in poorer condition could be sold.
There was little change in the supplies of sheep since last week, according to the latest sheep kill figures from the DAFM.
Spring lambs coming through the ring at Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow are quickly becoming attractive for buyers at the sheep sales.
The first of this year’s lamb crop will be processed in factories this week as spring lamb prices in 2024 have opened.
Agri-Business
Spring lamb has returned to the ring at Loughrea Mart in Co. Galway, where a 48kg lamb made €190 (€3.96/kg).
The sheep trade this week (November 13) has kicked off positively, with factories raising the price for spring lamb by up to 25c/kg in cases.
There is some upward movement to report in lamb prices at the start of this week, with base quotes increasing by 10c/kg from some processors.
There is no change to report from factory quotes on the last day of October, as the prices remain the same as last week for spring lambs.
In what has been a steady decline of prices since the end of June, those following the sheep trade over the last year will come to expect the prices on offer this week.
This week in the sheep trade, as prices at most outlets have remained the same as last week, some...
As prices for spring lamb continue to drop, factories are urging farmers to bring heavier lambs, as light lambs are becoming an issue.
Prices farmers are getting from factories today (July 24) for spring lamb are now €1/kg less than they were receiving last month (June 26).
The sheep trade this week saw cuts of up to 10c/kg for spring lambs as supplies from Northern Ireland return after last week.
Sheep News
The IFA has said that hogget and cull ewe prices have risen, but they have not kept pace with the cost increases incurred by sheep farmers.
€9.00/kg will be needed for spring lamb in order to cover the costs of spiralling input costs and leave something out of it for farmers.
Families are being encouraged by the ICSA to include a serving of spring lamb in their Easter menus this coming weekend.
Agri Politics
While there is a shortage of spring lamb on the cards, ICSA says it's not something that farmers need to be overly concerned about.
