Lamb quotes have reduced by another 10c/kg this week, leaving the majority of plants offering an opening price €8.70/kg for quality assured lambs.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants are quoting a base of €8.50/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Ballon Meats is also working in the same region, with its all-in quote of €8.70/kg, as is Kildare Chilling with a base of €8.60/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

Groups and regular sellers are securing returns in the region of €8.80/kg, while at the top end of the market, €8.90/kg has been paid. This is harder to negotiate as the week has progressed.

Last week’s kill fell well back, as expected, on the previous week (Eid al-Adha), with throughput reducing by about 10,000 head and recorded at 39,528.

There is little merit in comparing the kill to the corresponding week in 2024, where over 63,000 sheep were processed in advance of the festival.

The percentage of hoggets remains on a downward trend, but is still substantial at 8,273 head. The lamb kill was recorded at 26,511 head and ewe and ram throughput at 4,743 head.

Hogget quotes are unchanged at a base of €7/kg. This leaves quality assured hoggets trading in ICM at an opening price of €7.20/kg, with top prices of €7.30/kg to €7.40/kg still being paid.

The importance of establishing potential cuts on hoggets deemed excessively overweight and setting teeth has been highlighted in recent weeks and remains critical, with cuts ranging from upwards of €1/kg back to ewe prices.

Quotes for ewes are 10c/kg easier in Ballon Meats at €5.20/kg. This is significantly higher than the general quotes of €4.50/kg to €4.70/kg on offer in most plants. Kildare Chilling has upped its quote to €4.90/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

Live prices are steady, with marts possibly a better outlet for farmers struggling to negotiate on price for heavy carcase ewes.

Northern Ireland

The trade in Ireland is in contrast with Northern Ireland, where the presence of buyers from Britain in live sales is inserting more competition.

Reports indicate that live lamb prices in Ballymena Mart on Wednesday were upwards of £3 to £5 per head firmer.

Reports indicate in excess of 3,000 sheep were exported to Britain last week, on a par with the number exported to Ireland for direct slaughter.

Factories are quoting a base price of £6.90/kg (€8.13/kg), but reports indicate regular sellers and groups are securing £7/kg, with higher returns to those trading at the top end of the market.

Lamb prices in Britain are in the region of £7.50/kg after strengthening in the last two weeks, opening up the opportunity for British buyers to purchase lambs in the North and still deliver a margin.

The average price in Britain has reduced by 24p/kg on the week, driven mainly by hogget prices easing back.