Read The Irish Farmers Journal for all the latest developments in the sheep farming sector & market today including lamb, hogget & sheep prices.
Throughput in recent weeks has faltered badly, now running over 350,000 head lower than in 2023.
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Mart throughput in recent weeks has benefitted from a vibrant live trade encouraging producers struggling to negotiate higher prices with factories to sell live.
Opening prices for quality assured (QA) lambs are in the region of €8.70/kg in most plants, with agents keen to try to maximise throughput over the Christmas processing schedule.
Base quotes are starting the week at a range of €8.50/kg to €8.70/kg for quality assured lambs, with agents also starting to tie into supplies for the Christmas period.
There was a 100% clearance rate at this week's sheep sale in Kenmare Mart. It marked the end of trading for the year and the super trade was a sharp contrast to this time 12 months ago.
Sale reports vary somewhat, depending on the level of competition between buyers, but a noticeable trend is agents looking to source higher numbers.
Base quotes for quality assured lambs for Thursday now range from €8.20/kg to €8.50/kg, with factories looking to try to maintain upward momentum in throughput.
Base quotes for prime cattle reached the 500p/kg mark this week for the first time on record in Northern Ireland, with quotes jumping 15p/kg for fat lambs.
Top prices for lambs have moved to upwards of €8.60/kg, while demand for ewes has intensified, with prices also pushing on by 10c/kg.
Factory prices for finished cattle and lambs continue to rise in Northern Ireland, as processors continue to chase supplies.
