Factory lamb prices are unchanged with numbers remaining at a very low level for the time of year. Opening base quotes continue in the region of €8/kg for quality assured lambs (QA).

Producer groups and regular sellers are securing €8.10/kg, with top prices rising to €8.20/kg. There are reports of some sellers exceeding this price cap, but numbers of sheep moving at this price appear to be low.

Prices are running 80c/kg ahead of the corresponding period in 2024, while ewe prices are running from 60c/kg to €1/kg higher than in 2024.

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While price is static, there has been some movement this week on carcase weight, with the two Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin and Navan increasing their carcase weight cut off by 0.5kg to 22kg.

This is putting pressure on other plants to follow suit, with more producers handling significant numbers said to be digging in on carcase weight in negotiations on price.

The mart trade is being boosted by the presence of a couple of new buyers looking for lambs for export. One buyer active in the south of the country is purchasing finished lambs for export in carcase form, with another looking for lighter lambs.

The tightness in supply is demonstrated in last week’s kill figure. While throughput increased by about 3,000 head to reach 38,176, it is running a massive figure of 16,739 head, or 30%, below the corresponding week in 2024.

Year to date throughput is now running over 270,000 head, or 17%, lower than in 2024.

There is still a low number of hoggets in the kill which is surprising in mid-August, with 590 head slaughtered last week.

Factories are not actively looking for hoggets, but prices reported range anywhere from €6/kg to €7/kg depending on quality and carcase weight.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is unchanged, with a significant differential of upwards of 40c/kg remaining between plants.

Quotes at the lower end of the market are in the region of €4.60/kg while a number of plants are operating at a price of €4.80/kg to €5/kg, with abattoirs specialising in the trade for ewes paying upwards of €5.20/kg. Carcase weight limits range from 43kg to 45kg, and farmers with heavy ewes are advised to consider the mart trade.

Northern Ireland

The trade in Northern Ireland is steady, with base quotes in Dunbia at £6.90/kg (€7.99/kg), while the quote in ABP Linden is down 10p/kg to £6.80/kg (€7.86/kg).

Regular sellers and groups are receiving £6.90/kg to £7/kg (€8.09/kg) with higher paid to agents handling big numbers.

Buyers purchasing lambs for export to Britain continue to insert extra competition into the market with in excess of 4,000 sheep exported live in the last week.

The number of sheep exported to Ireland last week for direct slaughter more than doubled to 4,348 head.