Prices for lambs are ranging from €5.20-€5.30/kg this week, with up to €5.30-€5.35/kg (including bonuses) being paid to producer group members.
Quotes for cull ewes are hovering around €2.60-€2.80/kg.
The re-opening of Kildare Chilling this week, following a Covid-19 outbreak, has been welcomed by farmers.
Processing operations were suspended after employees tested positive for the virus; all other staff members were tested, and the meat processor washed down its plant to sanitise the facility before it re-opened.
Throughput
The national sheep kill is running 96,118 head higher than the corresponding period last year, following an analysis of data obtained from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s database.
The total kill for the year-to-date stands at 1,758,056, compared to 1,661,938 last year.
36,938 more lambs/hoggets have been processed, 79,873 more spring lambs, 20,378 more ewes and rams, while a further 315 light lambs have been presented for slaughter.
The national sheep kill for the week commencing August 10th stood at 52,586 head, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s database.
Breakdown:
- Lambs/hoggets: 132;
- Spring lambs: 43,452;
- Ewes and rams: 9,000;
- Light lambs: 2.
Total: [Does not include this week’s throughput]:
- Lambs/hoggets: 787,456
- Spring lambs: 750,638;
- Ewes and rams: 219,916;
- Light lambs: 46.
Corresponding week in 2019:
- Lambs/hoggets: 151
- Spring lambs: 56,190
- Ewes and rams: 10,566
- Light lambs: 53.
Cumulative at end of week 33 in 2019:
- Lambs/hoggets: 750,518;
- Spring lambs: 670,765;
- Ewes and rams: 240,294;
- Light lambs: 361.
