Sheep
This time of the year, farmers traditionally begin to move out in larger numbers to buy store lambs...
The store lamb trade is currently strong across marts, and keen demand has created good prices, Sean Mannion explains.
With breeding sheep sales easing across the country, the focus for some buyers may now be returning to the store lamb trade in marts.
Store lamb sales have kicked off at marts around the country and farmers in the business of buying store lambs generally commence...
Beef
The past two months has seen an explosive rise in factory quotes for finished store lambs with prices rising on a weekly basis and reports...
Based near Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo is Pat Carthy, a suckler-beef farmer who has been 34 years farming from a wheelchair.
Speaking to Agriland on how the Irish sheep sector fared in 2023, IFA sheep chair, Adrian Gallagher also offered an outlook for 2024.
Today, Agriland made the trip down to Co. Wicklow to observe the sheep trade at Blessington Mart, where its weekly sheep sale took place
Sheep Technical
With the large number of store lambs currently on farms, farmers are considering finishing lambs or selling as stores
Farmers bringing heavy lambs to Inishowen Livestock Mart for a sheep sale on November 3 saw an improved trade since the previous sale.
With factories reporting poorer, lighter lambs in recent weeks, the challenge for farmers finishing lambs is proving difficult for many.
Hill-bred store lambs are back by as much as €25/head on last year according to Kenmare Mart...
As lamb prices are on a downward spiral and we head into autumn when grass quality is going to decline, it is a good time to assess options for lambs on the farm.
Minister Charlie McConalogue is being called on to come forward with supports for farmers to plant catch crops to bolster store lamb trade
The exceptional trade for lambs across the board over the last number of weeks is really leaving farmers in a strong position.
AgriLand spoke to a number of mart managers and the general consensus was that there was a "strong interest" among beef farmers for stores.
The store lamb trade is feeling the brunt of the fodder shortage as drystock farmers opt to make extra bales, the ICSA has cautioned.
Farmers continue to show strong demand for quality lots of ewe lambs, while improved trade was also reported for butcher and factory sheep.
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.
Teagasc will host a store lamb finishing open day at its Athenry Campus, tomorrow, November 15.
Strong numbers of store lambs passing through the sheep marts in recent weeks and there's been firm demand for the lambs on offer, the LMC has said.
