The sheep trade remains solid, despite a slight easing in some cases in average prices paid.
Factory agents have been trying hard over the last week to reduce prices, but have continually met opposition and, in many cases, have been forced to concede some ground to secure supplies, with numbers still relatively tight.
A high percentage of lambs have traded in recent days in a price bracket of €7.80/kg to €8/kg, with top prices rising 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher in deals involving large numbers or where conformation bonuses or allowances on transport are take into account.
Plants are trying hard as the week progresses to curtail top prices to €8/kg. Base quotes for Thursday have reduced on average to €7.55/kg to €7.70/kg, excluding quality assurance (QA) bonuses.
SHARING OPTIONS:
Prices are being strongly influenced by the quality of lambs offered and in particular the level of flesh cover. / Patrick Browne
The sheep trade has recorded another positive week of trading. The week started off in an excellent fashion on Monday, with agents keen to compensate for a relatively low level of lambs coming on stream over the weekend.
There were murmurs in sales on Tuesday and Wednesday that factory agents were being afforded less purchasing power and while some sales may have started with slightly less intensity, normal service soon resumed, with agents not willing to miss out on numbers.