Tighter Lamb Supplies Should Lift Trade

Sheep in Wicklow

IFA National Sheep Chairman John Lynskey said there was an improvement in the lamb trade this week with factories paying €4.75/kg to get lambs.

He said supplies have definitely tightened with factories very anxious for stock. In general, prices were in the range of €4.65 to €4.75/kg.

John Lynskey said there have been a number of weeks of big kills and, together with the bad weather and lack of thrive, this has left finished lambs supplies much tighter. He said numbers in the producer groups are way back this week and agents are looking for stock.

The IFA Sheep Chairman said farmers with fit lambs should bargain hard and insist on a good bonus over the quoted prices on offer from the factories.

John Lynskey said the Christmas demand will be kicking in and this will add to already strong demand.

The IFA Sheep Farmers leader said carcase weights should also move up to 23kgs at this time of year.

John Lynskey said ewes were making €2.50 to €2.60/kg.

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