The sheep trade in NI has hit a midsummer dip, with factories applying cuts of 20-30p/kg to lamb quotes this week.

Base quotes from local plants now range from 660-680p/kg, down from 690-700p/kg last week.

At the upper end of the current price range, a 21kg carcase kills into £142.80.

Despite downward pressure, current prices are not as bad as some expected.

This time last year, lambs were averaging 578p/kg, so current prices are more than £20/head above those levels.

The volume of lambs being exported to Britain from NI remains a key factor underpinning the local trade.

Sources indicate that almost 5,000 sheep moved across the Irish Sea last week and official DAERA figures show 2,066 of these were lambs exported for direct slaughter.

The 5,000 figure equates to around 70% of the typical weekly sheep kill in NI and is ahead of the number of NI sheep that have moved to the Republic of Ireland for direct slaughter in recent weeks.

Next week

The closure of meat plants for one or two days with the July holidays is likely to see reduced throughout of lambs at NI factories next week.

That could lead to a build-up of lambs, although the re-opening of marts from next Tuesday onwards will give local farmers an outlet and is likely to see live exports re-commence.

Weaning, dosing and dipping is taking place on local farms too and this is likely to slow down the number of lambs that are brought forward for slaughter over the coming weeks.