The rate of upward movement in the sheep trade varies between factories.

Kildare Chilling continues to set the tone with its base quote for Thursday of €5.30/kg plus 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) bonus increasing 10c/kg on the week.

Dawn Meats has increased its base quote by 5c/kg to €5.10/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

ICM’s plants have lifted by a similar rate of 5c/kg and join Kepak on a base of €5.00/kg, with the west of Ireland plant slightly ahead by merit of its higher 15c/kg QA bonus.

Meanwhile, Ballon Meats and Moyvalley Meats remain on all-in quotes of €5.20/kg.

Prices paid at the top of the market have little correlation with what is being quoted in some plants.

The exception to this is in Kildare Chilling, where QA lambs are now automatically moving at €5.40/kg.

In other plants, regular sellers and producer groups continue to secure returns of €5.30/kg to €5.40/kg, while some specialist finishers handling higher numbers are securing returns of €5.45/kg.

Last week’s kill was recorded at 56,934 head. This is 1,922 head above the corresponding week in 2018, but there are differences between categories of stock.

The lamb kill was 4,056 head higher, but reports suggest it will be challenging to replicate that this week.

Ewe supplies are significantly tighter, with lower barren rates said to be limiting numbers.

Last week’s throughput was recorded at 8,648, which is a reduction of 2,134 head on the corresponding week in 2018.

Kildare Chilling and Ballon Meats have increased their ewe quotes to €2.90/kg, with the remainder of plants quoting €2.80/kg. Top prices have pushed above €3.00/kg and are rising to €3.10/kg.

Northern trade

Quotes in Northern Ireland have increased 5p/kg to 10p/kg. Linden Foods is quoting £4.30/kg, which is the equivalent of €5.02/kg at an exchange rate of 85.6p to the euro and €5.29/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Dunbia Dungannon is 10p/kg lower, while, at the top end of the market, regular sellers and producer groups are pushing returns to £4.35/kg (€5.36/kg).

The AHDB reports British prices steadying, with R grading lambs averaging £4.55/kg (€5.60/kg).

Meanwhile, the IFA met with Meat Industry Ireland and lamb processors this week.

Sean Dennehy said: “[The] IFA were very strong in the argument that carcase weight limits were way too restrictive and new-season lamb needed to open at a minimum carcase weight of 21kg.

“We also put a strong case across to increase the QA bonus to 30c/kg to properly reward farmers, while highlighting that scrapie and SRM charges on ewes should be abolished.”

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