Sheep trade: Quotes for spring lambs strengthen in Northern Ireland

Sheep prices Northern Ireland April 2021 

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), quotes for spring lambs strengthened this week to 630-640p/kg up to 21kg across the major of plans in Northern Ireland.

The commission expected quotes for lambs to range from 620-640p/kg early next week.

Sheep prices Northern Ireland April 2021 

Meanwhile, the deadweight hogget price decreased by 2.3p/kg from the previous week to 597.6p/kg. On the other hand, the spring lamb price increased by 5.8p/kg to 618.5p/kg.

“Meanwhile, last week in ROI, the combined lamb/hogget deadweight price was up 11.2p/kg to the equivalent of 646.4p/kg,” the LMC added.

Throughput and exports

Lamb/hogget throughput in NI plants last week totalled 4,826 head, back 26% from the previous week.

However, this is a similar throughput compared to the 4,728 lambs/hoggets processed locally in the same week last year.

Exports of lambs/hoggets to ROI for direct slaughter last week totalled 3,357 head, an increase of 854 head from the previous week.

Beef prices in Northern Ireland

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), beef factories across Northern Ireland quoted 366-378p/kg for U-3 grade prime cattle this week.

The LMC reported that quotes for early next week are expected to range from 362-376p/kg.

“Producers should use these quotes as a starting point for negotiation with higher prices available, particularly for cattle that meet current market specifications.”

Quotes for good quality O+3 grading cows this week continued to range from 265-290p/kg, with “similar quotes expected for next week”.

“The NI deadweight prices for prime cattle reported a mixed trade last week when compared to the previous week.”

The average steer price in NI marginally increased to 382.1p/kg, with the R3 steer price up just over a penny to 391.1p/kg.

Meanwhile, the average heifer price decreased by just over a penny last week to 383.4p/kg. To note, the R3 heifer price was back by 0.4p/kg to 392.2p/kg.

“The average young bull price in NI held steady last week at 366.6p/kg. However, the U3 young bull price decreased by almost 3p/kg to 383p/kg.”

“Meanwhile, the average NI cow price decreased by 2.5p/kg from the previous week to 272.9p/kg, with the O3 cow price up 0.4p/kg to 297.3p/kg last week.”