This week’s sheep kill is expected to exceed normal levels for the time of year. Kepak Athleague and Dawn Ballyhaunis are back processing but farmers in the west continue to face processing delays with a significant backlog in supplies developing in recent weeks.

Prices are steady with base quotes ranging from €4.50/kg to €4.55/kg. General prices secured by individual sellers range from €4.55/kg to €4.65/kg with top prices of €4.70/kg to €4.75/kg secured by producer groups.

IFA sheep chair Sean Dennehy is calling for factories to increase carcase weight limits to 22kg and to refrain from penalising producers that had lambs go overweight as a result of the beef protests.