The national sheep kill for the week commencing July 6th stood at 64,386 head, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine’s database.
The inclusion of this data brings the kill for the year-to-date (excluding this week’s throughput) to 1,442,029, which is more than 71,000 head higher than the corresponding period last year.
Last week’s kill:
- Lambs/hoggets: 478;
- Spring lambs: 56,096;
- Ewes and rams: 7,812;
- Light lambs: 0;
- Total: 64,386.
Cumulative:
- Lambs/hoggets: 786,221;
- Spring lambs: 476,485;
- Ewes and rams: 179,282;
- Light lambs: 41;
- Total: 1,442,029.
Corresponding week in 2019:
- Lambs/hoggets: 496;
- Spring lambs: 52,943;
- Ewes and rams: 7,530;
- Light lambs: 59;
- Total: 61,028.
Cumulative in 2019 [up to week 28]:
- Lambs/hoggets: 749,074;
- Spring lambs: 423,950;
- Ewes and rams: 197,418;
- Light lambs: 158;
- Total: 1,370,600.
Prices
Lamb prices moved up sharply this week, driven by rising demand for the significant Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha, according to IFA national sheep chairman, Sean Dennehy.
He said to secure supplies; some factories have had to increase their base price by as much as 20c/kg, with top prices including bonuses reaching €5.90/kg.
He confirmed that all factories have increased quoted prices and paid prices this week to get lambs.
“Prices are ranging from €5.65/kg to €5.75/kg, with top prices of €5.90/kg including bonuses paid. Farmers are also negotiating on weights up to 21.5kgs.”
He said factories are not able to secure lambs at the lower quoted prices and are having to pay 30c to 35c/kg over quotes for supplies.
