Sheep markets are reasonably steady, with prices holding similar to last week’s.

Around the country, €4.70/kg is freely available, but producers with large quantities of lambs are securing prices of €4.75/kg to €4.80/kg. Some producer groups are being paid €4.80/kg up to a carcase weight of 22kg. Processors are holding base quotes at €4.60/kg to €4.65/kg, with Kepak Athleague continuing to give the highest base quote.

The prices paid are strong when you take into account that there has been another increase in the total kill last week, with 1,057 more sheep slaughtered on the previous week to a total of 63,121.

The Muslim festival Eid al-Adha is helping to drive the demand for ram lambs as factories actively try to fill their stores now ahead of the festival in mid-September.

This extra demand, combined with a buoyant ewe lamb and store trade in the marts, is helping to keep a floor under prices.

Bord Bia said there has been a 10c/kg increase in lamb quotes this week in France, with grade one Irish spring lamb trading at €4.60/kg.

It said the market is still very calm, but there has been noticeably more activity than the previous weeks in August.

IFA National Sheep Committe chairman John Lynskey said the lamb market remains solid, with good supplies and very strong demand, driven by retail sales and increased demand for Eid al-Adha.

He said the factories are anxious for lambs and are paying €4.80/kg to 22kg. He said some plants had to pay well in excess of quotes in order to secure numbers and some top deals of €4.85/kg to €4.90/kg have been paid this week.

Poor kill-out: Some factories have pointed out that there is an increase in the number of lambs being slaughtered coming in under-fleshed.

They say farmers should not only weigh lambs, but also check that they handle well before being drafted for sale, otherwise they say farmers may be disappointed with kill-outs.

Where lambs have not been supplemented to date, there may be merit in feeding some concentrates to help improve kill-out percentage, especially where lambs are grazing old pastures.

Cull ewes: The cull ewe trade remains stable, with most farmers securing €2.70 to €2.80/kg. ICM has increased quotes by 10c/kg to €2.60/kg and Ballon Meats has the highest quote of €2.70/kg.

NI: There has been no change in quotes from NI with both Dunbia Dungannon and Linden Foods quoting 305p/kg for lambs.