Lamb prices have reduced anywhere from 10c/kg to 40c/kg compared to last week. The two Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin and Navan are quoting a base price of €8/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

The reduction came in two stages with a cut of 20c/kg over the weekend followed by another 20c/kg for Thursday’s kill.

Ballon Meats are quoting an all-in price of €8.30/kg which equates to a reduction of 10c/kg on last week’s quote.

There is a scarcity of official quotes in the table but reports indicate that Kildare Chilling are paying in the region of €8.20/kg plus 10c/kg QA for Thursday.

Kepak are reported as working in the region of €8.20/kg plus their 15c/kg QA payment.

Returns are being paid to 21kg carcase weight with plants resisting upward movement and giving many groups a 1 August timeline for adding an extra 0.5kg.

There are variable reports with regards numbers coming on stream. Some agents report lamb numbers being boosted by weaning taking place and more farmers drafting their first batch of lambs while others report that some farmers are more reluctant to move lambs this week at the lower prices on offer.

Last week’s kill was recorded at 39,931 head. This represents an increase of over 1,300 head on the previous week but throughput continues to lag well behind 2024 levels with 8,455 fewer sheep processed than in the corresponding week in 2024.

Total throughput in the year to date now exceeds over 200,000 lower than in 2024. While throughput in 2024 fell by over 375,000 head on 2023 throughput levels.

Appetite

There were 35,245 lambs slaughtered last week. Hogget throughput continues to fall with 1,430 hoggets in last week’s kill. Factories continue to exhibit an appetite for suitable hoggets with plants working off a base of €7/kg.

Typical prices paid are in the region of €7.20/kg to €7.30/kg for hoggets ticking the boxes on weight and fact score with top price rising to €7.50/kg to specialist finishers / agents.

The reduction in the hogget kill is helping demand for ewes. Ewe quotes are steady with variation remaining between plants.

Opening prices on offer are in the region of €4.50/kg but there are plants paying €4.90/kg to €5/kg and at the top end of the market abattoirs paying upwards of €5.20/kg for top-quality ewes.

Northern Ireland

Lambs prices in plants in Northern Ireland have also been cut by 20p/kg to 30p/kg and average in the region of £6.60/kg to £6.80/kg (€7.63/kg to €7.83/kg).

Continued demand from buyers from Britain remains a key factor helping competition with reports indicating almost 5,000 sheep were exported live last week. Exports to Ireland for direct slaughter also increased by about 1,000 head to 3,527 sheep.

In contrast the AHDB reports British lamb prices remaining steady at £7.48/kg last week although there has been some pressure on price this week.