Lamb prices July 2021
Strong market demand and tight supplies of suitable lambs have forced factories into increasing prices this week.
That is according to IFA sheep chairman, Sean Dennehy, who reported that factories are “actively” seeking lambs to meet the increased demand for the Eid festival starting on July 20th.
Lamb prices July 2021
In light of this, he added, plants have had to increase prices over the weekend.
“Deals of €6.40 to €6.60/kg are being offered. Farmers with suitable lambs are rightly holding out for these and higher prices.”
He added that factories are offering deals on transport and on weights to secure lambs.
He advises farmers to be fully aware of their weights to maximise the value of the available deals.
Increased live export buying is helping the trade, and this will be further supported following the Eid festival as breeding and store sales commence.
Cull ewes are also in strong demand, with plants offering up to €3.60/kg.
The throughput to date at 325,880 is over 9,700 lambs, more than this time last year. This higher movement of lambs earlier in the year is now feeding into the weekly slaughterings.
Numbers week-on-week are back over 5,000 head compared to 2020.
The average weight of lambs slaughtered this year is 0.5/kg lighter than last year.
Dennehy stated that this points to the earlier movement of lambs and ensures there will be no major flush of lambs.
“Farmers should continue to sell hard in these favourable market conditions,” he concluded.
‘Walk away if factories refuse to step up to €6.50/kg mark’
Meanwhile, last week, the ICSA claimed that processors are slashing sheep quotes “purely to frighten farmers into selling”.
Sean McNamara made the remark as a result of plants cutting quotes by up to €40/head in the last three weeks.
He said that factory-fit lambs are scarce on the ground. Therefore, sheep farmers are in a “strong” position to “resist these scare tactics and fight for a decent price”.
“Factories are trying to generate panic in the trade with consecutive and dramatic price cuts, but the reality is supplies are tight at the moment.”
“Our advice to farmers is to sell as hard as possible and to walk away if factories refuse to step up to the €6.50/kg mark at the very minimum.”
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