UK: Processors slow to move up weight limits for lambs in Northern Ireland

Processors have been slow to move up weight limits for lambs in Northern Ireland, similar to what has been seen in the Republic of Ireland. The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has said that the seasonal changeover to paying for heavier lamb carcasses this year has been later than in previous years, with factories quoting up to 22kg during late-October last year. Northern Irish processors have said that the increase in availability of lambs for slaughter in the last number of weeks is down to producers feeding less meal, coupled with slow grass growth during the dry spell, which slowed down the number of finished lambs coming on stream during the summer months. The average carcass weight during the six-week period up the week ending November 12, was 21.5kg. This is up from the previous six-week period, reflecting the quality of lambs coming forward for slaughter, according to the LMC. The LMC said: “The strong carcass weights and availability of heavy lambs explains the delay ...