Pressure remains on the lamb trade, with quotes falling by another 10c/kg this week. Opening prices for quality assured lambs are in the region of €8.70/kg, with prices paid to groups and regular sellers in the region of €8.80/kg, and hitting a high of €8.90/kg in some cases.

Prices have been cut by 50c/kg or in excess of €10/head over the last four weeks. Farmgate lamb returns are running 20c/kg ahead of the corresponding week in 2024, but throughput is trending at a much lower level.

Last week’s sheep kill was recorded at 39,528 head, with year-to-date throughput running over 182,000 lower. This follows on from a reduction of over 377,000 head in 2024, with many mart managers reporting a significant decline in throughput.

Base quotes in Northern Ireland are in the region of £6.90/kg (€8.13/kg), but there is more life in the trade with the presence of British buyers adding competition to the trade. In excess of 3,000 sheep were reportedly exported to Britain last week, similar to the figure exported to Ireland for direct slaughter.

Sheep 2025

Meanwhile, final preparations are underway for Sheep 2025, taking place on Saturday 21 June 2025 in Teagasc Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co Galway. Gates open at 10am with admission free.

The largest dedicated sheep industry event has an exciting lineup of attractions for farming families.

There will be a wide range of technical exhibits, workshops, trade stands, sheep shows and displays, health, safety and wellbeing checks and demos, free children’s entertainment, sheepdog training, shearing / wool shed exhibits and cooking demonstration with Neven Maguire.