Sheep trade: Prices remain more steady for this week
This week's sheep trade has seen more stability on pricing front following last week's cuts to both spring lambs and hogget prices.
Despite one outlet reducing its official price quote for hoggets by 5c/kg this week, other processors have held their hogget price quotes as well as the spring lamb and cull ewe prices.
As of Sunday, April 20, the cumulative sheep kill to date this year is 18% or almost 150,000 head below the same time last year.
This week, Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs leaving €9.20/kg on offer up to 21kg carcass weight.
The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlet is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets leaving €8.70/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass weight. ICM is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes this week.
Kepak is quoting €9.05/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs this week leaving €9.20/kg on offer here up to 21kg carcass weight.
The Athleague, Co. Roscommon-based processor is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets leaving €8.65/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass weight.
Kepak is quoting €5.40-5.50/kg for ewes up to 46kg carcass weight this week.
Kildare Chilling has no official quote for hoggets or spring lambs this week but is quoting €5.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes from 35-43kg carcass weight leaving €5.70/kg on offer for these.
Kildare Chilling is quoting €5.50/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes from 25-35kg carcass weight leaving €5.60/kg on offer for these.
Ballon Meats has no official quotes for this week.
Hogget and spring lamb prices have declined since Easter but there remains some level of confidence among farmers that some price recovery in the sheep trade could be seen into May and June.
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