Suppliers reporting up to 800c/kg for sheep this week
Sheep prices / lamb prices
In a similar vein to the beef trade, the current demand for sheep meat is putting processors under pressure to source sufficient lambs to meet the demand.
Quoted prices from the factories have increased by 10-15c/kg this week to a base ranging 760-765c/kg as the trade continues in a similar pattern to 2023 of prices rising to the higher levels.
However, demand continues to deliver for the sheep farmers, and suppliers to the factories are reporting that up to 800c/kg can be got in deals with the processors this week.
"Anyone with larger numbers to offer is in the driving seat on the prices, because the factory agents are going to the marts and paying a lot more to get additional lambs to supply the orders this week," according to one supplier.
"Sell hard, and up to €8/kg can be got if the factory is really under pressure to get enough," they added.
The background to the demand is the increasing impact of the depletion of the national breeding flock over recent years as breeders switched land use to more rewarding farming enterprises.
Markets for Irish lamb remain very strong, and the lead-in to the pre-Christmas trade has put the processors under real pressure to supply the orders.
The strength of the factory trade is being reflected in the live sales at the marts, where several lots are now topping €200/head as the butchers compete for lots.
Butchers are now paying close to €150 over for good lambs at the sales, while factory lots are selling for up to €135 over at the top of the market.
