The sheep trade remains in a solid position, with the ending of the Ramadan festival on Saturday 23 May boosting demand.

Factory agents have been anxious to get their hands on higher numbers and were very active in trying to entice more sheep forward at the start of the week.

There has been a gradual increase in supplies coming on stream as the week progresses and factories remain happy to keep numbers moving.

Quotes for Thursday are unchanged, with the exception of Ballon Meats which has increased its all-in quote by 10c/kg to €6.00/kg.

Dawn Meats, Kepak Athleague and the two ICM plants in Camolin and Navan remain on a base of €6.00/kg, with Kepak’s 15c/kg quality assurance bonus (QA) all that separates it from the other two plants, which are paying a 10c/kg QA bonus.

Kildare Chilling continues to top the quotes table with its base of €6.10/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

Prices paid to farmers range from €6.00/kg to €6.15/kg for non-QA lamb and lambs traded in smaller volumes.

Sellers with higher numbers are securing returns of €6.20/kg to €6.25/kg, while producers trading at the top of the market are pushing returns to €6.30/kg to €6.35/kg for large batches of sheep.

Last week’s kill was recorded at 34,627 head, but this figure is reported as omitting returns from one plant.

It is likely that the final figure will be in the region of 45,000. If this is the case it represents an increase of about 2,500 head on the previous week.

The breakdown in the kill shows a continued contraction in hogget supplies, with throughput recorded at 7,670.

This is another factor underpinning strong demand for lambs, with early lamb producers thankfully in a position to get a significant number of lambs away while market returns have been relatively positive.

Producers are pushing for carcase weight limits to be increased across the board to 21kg and while there are deals completed at this level, most factories are holding out until 1 June to do so.

IFA sheep chair Sean Dennehy said: “With the COVID-19 crisis, it was never more important for the lamb factories to act in a responsible manner in terms of maintaining a solid price for lamb.

“The changeover from hoggets to spring lamb is a volatile time and it is essential strong prices are maintained into the summer season.”

Hogget quotes have eased 10c/kg and range from €5.20/kg to €5.30/kg.

Demand is strongest in the east and price continues to be strongly influenced by quality.

Hoggets meeting desired factory specification and traded in big numbers are trading from €5.40/kg to €5.55/kg, with select deals exceeding this.

NI lambs

Lambs quotes in Northern Ireland have increased 10p/kg £5.10/kg.

Sterling has strengthened to 89.7p to the euro, leaving this price at the equivalent of €5.69/kg and €6.00/kg including VAT at 5.4%.

Top prices are 5p/kg to 10p/kg higher when bonus or group payments are factored into the equation.

Plants have discontinued quoting for hoggets.