The coordinator of the North Alentejo Livestock Producers Group – Natur-al-Carnes, Maria Vacas de Carvalho, explained to the Lusa agency that the market is “more stable” due to exports and also emphasized that lambs with an average live weight of 30 kilos ” between 3.50 and 3.55 euros per kilo” are sold.
The group with about 400 shareholders has a price increase of “about 20%” compared to last year.
Maria Vacas de Carvalho also emphasized that producers are facing an “exceptionally good year” in terms of pasture land, something that did not happen in 2023 due to the drought.
The president of the Association of Young Farmers of the South (AJASUL) and farmer, Diogo Vasconcelos, told Lusa that in the Évora region lambs are sold for values equal to or even “slightly higher” than those mentioned by the representative of Natur-a.
The official, who also notes the importance of lamb exports, mainly to Israel, also indicates that there is “a lot of domestic consumption” at this time due to traditions related to Easter.
Diogo Vasconcelos also emphasizes that prices are currently “very competitive” because it is the “most favorable” year for farmers who do not need to feed animals additionally, as in 2023, due to the drought.
“There is pasture and the animals do not need to be fed, which is beneficial, but it is not possible to replace the losses we have suffered due to the drought [in 2023] to make up for it, it takes time to recover,” he said.
In the Beja district, the demand for lambs continues to “increase” and sales prices also show “a slight increase” compared to last year, António Lopes, chairman of the board of directors of the livestock farmers group Carnes do Campo, confirmed to Lusa Branco, based in Castro Verde.
“For animals from 25 to 30 kilos, the average price varies between 100 and 120 euros,” he revealed, confirming that in addition to exports, especially to Israel, sales of lambs on the national market have also increased.
According to António Lopes, “last year there was a very large import of lamb, because prices were different and large supermarkets chose to buy imported lamb”.
“But this year they chose to use national lamb and import almost nothing. More than half of the lamb production can be done here [in Portugal] remain,” he added.
The drought of recent years has affected agricultural holdings in the region, but 2024 was “excellent in pastures, which has not happened for a long time”, which benefits production, António Lopes acknowledged.
“It is difficult to heal the ‘wound’ of last year, but at least this year is already a relief and there are other prospects for the future,” he concluded.
In Campo Branco, a region that includes the Alentejo municipalities of Castro Verde and Almodôvar and part of Aljustrel, Mértola and Ourique, approximately 15,000 sheep are sold every year through the group of livestock producers.
