Base lamb quotes have fallen by 30c/kg to 40c/kg when compared with last week. Quotes were initially reduced by 20c/kg over the weekend, with a further cut of 10c/kg to 20c/kg imposed from Wednesday onwards.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan and Dawn Kildare are quoting a base price of €9.30/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, while Ballon Meats are quoting a similar all-in price of €9.50/kg.

Groups and regular sellers are being paid €9.60/kg in the main, with some deals rising to €9.70/kg. Sellers with lower negotiating power are facing challenges in securing prices over €9.50/kg, but some handling higher numbers are pushing returns to €9.55/kg to €9.60/kg.

Factory agents are more cautious in their purchasing behaviour and are only quoting prices for the following day or a couple of days ahead. Procurement personnel comment that there is greater pressure in export markets, and state that the quotes in the price table are for Thursday and Friday only.

Most plants are not officially quoting for hoggets but are still handling small numbers. Quotes were in the region of €8.50/kg at the start of the week, and have also faced some downward pressure since then.

The only official quote is from the two ICM plants, which are quoting a base of €8.30/kg for Thursday.

Prices paid to groups and regular sellers are said to be in the region of €8.60/kg to €8.70/kg, but only for hoggets killing at desired carcase weights, with cuts being imposed again for hoggets deemed overweight and also for hoggets that have set permanent teeth.

Last week’s throughput increased by 2,305 head to reach 36,463. This is 2,620 head lower than the corresponding week in 2025 and comprises 27,775 lambs, 4,134 hoggets and 4,554 ewes and rams.

Base lamb quotes are running 70c/kg to 80c/kg ahead of 2025, while hogget quotes are about €1.30/kg higher. Cull ewes are marginally ahead, with base quotes running 10c/kg higher.

The majority of plants continue to quote in the region of €5/kg to €5.10/kg for ewes. Such plants are reported as willing to pay to €5.20/kg to €5.30/kg for choice ewes from regular suppliers.

Ballon Meats and a couple of other abattoirs active in the ewe trade are paying upwards of €5.50/kg for choice ewes.

Northern Ireland

Prices have also come under pressure in Northern Ireland with base quotes cut by 40p/kg.

The general quote for Thursday is £8/kg (€9.26/kg) with a couple of plants reported as trying to open negotiations below this mark.

The number of sheep exported live for direct slaughter to Ireland last week was at 2,735, about 230 head higher than the previous week, while the number of sheep exported live to Britain for direct slaughter reduced by about 600 to 3,348. Prices in Britain range from £8.60/kg to £8.80/kg (€9.95/kg to €10.18/kg) on average.