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Weather is reported as holding back the performance of February lambing flocks and in turn limiting the number of sheep curentl coming stream. \ Houston Green
The sheep trade remains solid, with tight supplies continuing to maintain a strong floor under the trade.
The rate at which lambs are coming on to the market appears to have slowed somewhat in the last week.
Reports suggest this is due to weather limiting the performance of lambs in February-lambing flocks, with both daily liveweight gain and kill-out potential suffering.
Unchanged prices
The price of spring lambs is unchanged, with base quotes ranging from €7.60/kg to €7.80/kg and a high percentage of lambs trading at a price of €7.80/kg to €8/kg.
Strong sheepmeat prices continue in Europe. \ Houston Green
Global prices remain steady this week for both beef and sheepmeat, with Irish beef prices being one of the more notable movers up to €4.04/kg for R3 steers.
This is significantly ahead of the EU average of €3.77/kg for R3 young bulls, but dramatically behind Britain, where average R3 prices have steadied at €4.72/kg equivalent.
The Northern Irish price of €4.48/kg is now noticeably behind the price in Britain, though well ahead of the Irish price.
In global markets, Brazil is a contradiction, because while prices have eased slightly in their own currency, because the real has increased in value against the euro, it means their price has increased to €3.15/kg when converted.
Irish cattle prices are rising, but remain €350/head behind Britain.
Irish farmgate beef prices have started to move in recent weeks, with the R3 steer now at €3.90/kg (ex-VAT).
However, they remain completely adrift of Britain on the equivalent of €4.75/kg and the North on the equivalent of €4.75/kg for the R3 steer.
This means that a typical Irish R3 steer is worth between €300 and €350 per head less than its UK counterpart.
The Irish steer price has pulled ahead of the EU average R3 young bull price of €3.77/kg.
In the world’s top three beef-exporting nations, Australia is well in front on the equivalent of €4.30/kg, the US is on €3.57/kg and Brazil is on the equivalent of €3.09/kg.
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Factories are looking to get their hands on a quantity of spring lambs to fill orders for the Easter trade.
The number of spring lambs slaughtered up to now has been negligible, with the focus very much remaining on hogget throughput. However, factories are looking to get their hands on a quantity of spring lambs to fill orders for the Easter trade.
The increase in appetite is reflected in a significant increase in spring lamb quotes, with base quotes for Thursday increasing by 30c/kg to 50c/kg and ranging from €7.40/kg to €7.50/kg, excluding the 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) bonus.