Sheep producers with lambs to sell were dealt a blow this week, with factories reducing base quotes by 10c/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin and Navan have reduced their base quotes by 10c/kg to a base of €7.50/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Kildare Chilling has also reduced its base quote by 10c/kg and is quoting €7.60/kg plus 10c/kg QA payment. In contrast, Ballon Meats has held its all-in quote at €7.80/kg.

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Reports regarding plants not officially quoting indicate an opening base quote of €7.50/kg to €7.55/kg or an opening price of €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg for QA lambs.

The pull in price leaves producer groups trading in the region of €7.80/kg to €7.90/kg depending on their agreement.

There are contrasting reports from sellers doing the rounds in recent days. Some point to producers and sellers handling large numbers and trading at the higher end of the market securing returns of €7.90/kg to €8/kg, while other sellers with lower negotiating power and selling on an infrequent basis are facing strong price pressure and trading in the region of €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg.

There is no movement on weight limits, despite some upward pressure, with plants holding tough in their stance at 22kg carcase weight.

Factory agents continue to exhibit a highly variable appetite for lambs. Most are not too bothered about handling extra sheep and that is reflected in the sheep kill remaining low at 40,525 head. This is almost identical to the previous week.

The difference in throughput between last week’s kill and the corresponding week in 2024 has narrowed to 9,002 head.

This is about half the level recorded a few weeks ago and is stemming from a sharp decline in 2024 throughput levels rather than any increase in current throughput levels.

The ewe and ram kill is unchanged at 5,079 head. Prices are static, with the majority of plants working off quotes of €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg, while Ballon Meats remains well out in front with its quote of €5/kg for ewes.

Plants continue to penalise light-carcase and under-fleshed ewes, with deductions ranging from 60c/kg to 80c/kg to upwards of €1/kg.

Northern Ireland

Dunbia has reduced its base quote by 10p/kg for Thursday and matches ABP’s quote from last week of £6.30/kg. This equates to €7.25/kg at Wednesday afternoon’s exchange rate of 86.9p to the euro.

Top prices are running 10p/kg to 15p/kg higher, but securing above this is proving hard. The number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter last week increased by about 800 head to 3,897, with exports to Britain low at 160 head.

The latest Agriculture Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) price report shows British prices easing by 3.8p/kg and running at an average of £6.62/kg (€7.62/kg). Throughput last week increased by 3% which is at odds with Europe.