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There is no movement on prime cattle and fat lamb prices in Northern Ireland, with plants working on short kill weeks.
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Competition for fat lambs is intensifying with plants offering higher prices and increasing weight limits to secure numbers.
Demand for slaughter-fit sheep remains solid, with prices in factories and marts starting the week in a broadly similar manner.
Sheep farmers should not rush to get lambs requiring further feeding moved on, as the mart trade remains strong, the IFA's sheep chair has said.
Opening prices for quality assured lambs have increased by another 10c/kg, with agents struggling to get their hands on required numbers.
Greater competition between agents and tighter supplies has forced agents to pay more, with the two Irish Country Meats plants increasing their base quote by 10c/kg.
There are positives in the beef and sheep trade in Northern Ireland with cattle quotes rising and marts underpinning lamb prices.
There is continued variability in slaughter performance of lambs, with well-fleshed lambs in keen demand.
Opening quotes for quality assured lambs are reported as ranging from €7.20/kg to €7.40/kg with a high percentage of opening offers in the region of €7.30/kg.
Opening prices for quality assured lambs range from €7.20/kg to €7.40/kg, with a high percentage of lambs trading from €7.30/kg to €7.45/kg.
