It has been a strange week for sheep markets. While base quotes remained similar at the start of the week, there were reports of some producers handling large numbers responding to demand at short notice and receiving returns of upwards of €6.70/kg.

However, the trade for most producers was unchanged, with producer groups and regular sellers trading in the region of €6.55/kg to €6.65/kg, while those selling individually and with lower negotiating power were generally working off a price of €6.50/kg.

Factories are trying to pull prices back, with base quotes for Thursday recorded at €6.20/kg, a fall of 10c/kg to 20c/kg on last week’s quotes.

Some producers are still working off base quotes of €6.30/kg where negotiations were done before the price drop.

Reports indicate factories are trying to pull prices paid at the higher end of the market back in line with the reduction in base quotes.

Agents are trying to purchase lambs at top prices of €6.50/kg, but reports from mart sales on Wednesday still show good-quality lambs being in tight supply and agents still being keen for good-quality lambs.

The higher numbers in the market at present is demonstrated in last week’s kill increasing by 3,352 head to reach 59,829.

This includes about 50,000 lambs and an increased kill of 9,645 ewes and rams, which is about 500 head higher week on week.

The kill is in line with the corresponding week in 2021 and is expected to be higher this week.

Northern trade

Quotes in Northern Ireland plants have also eased by 10p/kg to £5.00/kg, but it was a similar story of higher prices being paid at the start of the week to secure sales of good-quality lambs.

Regular sellers were operating at prices of £5.15/kg (€6.19/kg) to £5.25/kg (€6.21/kg), with agents moving to reduce prices by 10p/kg for Thursday and Friday’s kill.

The number of sheep exported south for direct slaughter remained unchanged in the last week and was recorded in the region of 6,500 head.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is holding firm, with plants still keen to maximise throughput.

Prices are typically starting at €3.50/kg, with significant numbers trading from €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg and reports of top prices of €3.80/kg to €4/kg paid for ewes delivered in large numbers and to a tight specification.

Producers should continue to weigh up whether the mart or factory is the most financially attractive option, with buyers filling these niche contracts active in mart sales for large-framed and ewes with the potential to deliver a high-quality carcase.

It is also worth producers who have not traded ewes for a significant period of time checking to see if there are any changes on carcase weight limits. These range from 40kg to 45kg in the main.