Sheep Prices May 2022
Factories across Northern Ireland increased base quotes (sheep prices) for R3 grade lambs this week (May 2022) after bouncing back from recent week’s dip.
Prices in this category ranged from 640-650p/kg up to 21kg, up 610-635p/kg this week.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission) said:
“The average deadweight lamb price in NI last week was 618.8p/kg, up 19.3p/kg from the previous week.”
“The sheep trade in ROI continues to strengthen with last week’s deadweight lamb price up by 13.6p/kg to the equivalent of 648.6p/kg.”
Throughput in the local plants last week rose to 6,916 lambs last week. This was just behind the 7,025 lambs plants killed locally during the corresponding week in 2021.
Exports of lambs to ROI for direct slaughter last week increased by 671 head to 3,476 head from the week prior to this.
Sheep prices in marts
According to the commission, the number of lambs passing through local sale rings increased this week, with prices “similar” to the previous week.
The spokesperson reported that trade for cull ewes “continued to remain” strong, with the top reported prices for well-fleshed ewes from £163-265 across the marts last week.
In Massereene on Monday, 298 lambs changed hands from 596- 638p/kg compared to 206 lambs selling from 600-624p/kg last week.
In Rathfriland this week, 452 lambs went under the hammer from 590-650p/kg (avg 619p/kg) compared to an entry of 441 lambs last week selling from 600-651p/kg (avg 629p/kg).
On Wednesday in Enniskillen, 320 lambs fetched from 590- 647p/kg compared to last week when 185 lambs sold from 585- 622p/kg.
Beef prices in Northern Ireland
According to a spokesperson for the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), base quotes for in-spec U-3 grade cattle remained steady in plants across NI mid-week (May 2022) to range from 424-428p/kg.
Meanwhile, in its weekly market outlook reported, it revealed that quotes for good quality O+3 grade cows varied from 280-360p/kg.
The commission reported that the majority of plants quoted 320p/kg upwards.
