Pressure has begun to mount on the sheep trade this week, with spring lamb prices under renewed pressure.
Factory offers fell earlier in the week on Monday (June 22), and further cuts were reported by some processors for today (Wednesday, June 24), indicating a softer tone in the market.
Spring lamb prices remained steady until last week, reaching €9.90/kg in many outlets last Monday (June 15).
Top bids for today (24 June) are 30-40c/kg below that level of €9.50-9.60/kg, but farmers who booked their lambs earlier in the week were still able to secure €9.70/kg for quality lambs, and above in some cases.
Sheep trade: factory prices
As of this morning, Wednesday, June 24th flap Offering €9.25/kg plus a Quality Assurance (QA) bonus of €0.15/kg for spring lambs, leaving €9.40/kg on offer here up to 21.5kg carcass weight.
Athleague, Co. offers Roscommon quote €5.00/kg for slaughter ewes this week.
Kepak doesn’t have a quote for the hogs again this week.
Irish country meat (ICM) is offering €9.30/kg plus a 20c/kg QB bonus for spring lambs, leaving €9.50/kg on offer here up to 21.5kg carcass weight.
Outlets in Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford are offering prices of €5.00/kg for slaughter ewes this week.
ICM is offering a bid of €8.50/kg plus a QC bonus of 20c/kg for pigs, leaving €8.70/kg on offer here up to 23kg.
Kildare Chilling (Dawn Kildare) is offering €9.30/kg plus 20c/kg QB for spring lambs up to 21.5kg, leaving €9.50/kg on offer here for Thursday (June 24).
The outlet is offering a price of €5.10/kg for ewes weighing 35-43kg.
Lighter ewes will be priced based on their rating at port.
Balloon meat In Co. Carlow today quotes a price of €9.50/kg for spring lambs.
The outlet quotes a price of €5.30/kg for slaughter ewes this week.
