Lamb prices have come under pressure this week, with factories reducing base quotes for Thursday by 10c/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants are quoting a base of €7.70/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, while Kildare Chilling is quoting a base of €7.80/kg plus 10c/kg QA payment.

Ballon Meats is unchanged at €8/kg, while reports indicate that Kepak and Dawn Meats plant in Ballyhaunis have also dropped back to an opening quote of €7.90/kg for QA lambs.

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Farmers were being conditioned about the reduction in price since the weekend, with agents not quoting beyond Monday or Tuesday.

Prices paid to producer groups and regular sellers is in the region of €8/kg to €8.05/kg. There are some deals being completed at €8.10/kg, but reports indicate this is harder to secure as the week progresses, with the exception of groups securing a higher payment.

The two ICM plants remain the only plants to officially increase quotes to 22kg carcase weight, with other plants paying to varying levels.

The majority will pay the higher carcase weight to regular sellers and groups, but are quoting irregular sellers to 21.5kg carcase weight.

Buyers purchasing lambs for exporting live or in carcase form remain active, but are not interfering with agents in many live sales. However, there have been some sales where buyers have locked horns, resulting in prices rising above factory returns.

Last week’s sheep kill increased by 3,685 head to reach 41,861. However, throughput continues to trend 25% lower than the corresponding week in 2024, with the kill running 15,595 head lower.

The kill for the year to date is fast approaching 300,000 fewer sheep slaughtered and is currently running 288,356 head lower.

The kill includes 389 hoggets, with plants willing to accept hoggets that farmers have on hand. Prices range anywhere from ewe price for those deemed overweight to €6/kg to €7/kg for lighter hoggets.

The ewe and ram kill was recorded at 4,953 head, which is almost 40% lower than the corresponding week in 2024.

Factory quotes for ewes are unchanged and continue to range from €4.50/kg at entry level to the market to €4.80/kg to €5.20/kg and higher in plants or abattoirs specialising in the mart trade.

Northern trade

Factories in Northern Ireland have also reduced quotes by 10p/kg, with base quotes for Thursday ranging from £6.70/kg to £6.80/kg or the equivalent of €7.74/kg to €7.86/kg.

Regular sellers and groups are securing 10p/kg to 15p/kg above quotes.

Last week’s sheep kill reduced by about 350 head and was recorded at 8,999 head.

The number of sheep exported south for direct slaughter to Ireland reduced by 1,200 head to 3,150 and the number of sheep exported for direct slaughter to Britain fell by about 900 head to 1,835.