While there has been no reversal of last week’s cuts of 10c/kg by the majority of plants, there is hope that paid carcase weight limits will increase to 22.5kg in the coming week or so.

Many producer groups are set to see their carcase limits rise to this weight after 1 November, with the expectation being that farmers will hopefully be able to negotiate this increase for themselves amid tight numbers.

The two Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin are stagnant at €7.50/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Kildare Chilling is on par with them at €7.70/kg for QA lambs, with a 10c/kg bonus being included in this.

Ballon Meats, which did not cut prices last week or early this week, has an all-in quote at €7.80/kg.

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

Producer groups remain trading in the region of €7.80/kg to €7.90/kg depending on their agreement.

Meanwhile, €7.90/kg to €8/kg is being reported by fewer sellers, even those selling bigger numbers, with the majority of larger sellers or producer groups working off a base of €7.80/kg including QA.

Factory agents continue to exhibit a highly variable appetite for lambs.

Sheep kill

The kill count this week took another fall, down to 38,772, with 5,126 fewer lambs than for the same week in 2024, equivalent to a cut in numbers of 21%.

While it is significantly less of a difference than other weeks, it is not due to increased numbers coming out in 2025.

The ewe and ram kill fell by less than 100 head to 4,916, with prices also static for these.

The majority of plants are working off quotes of €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg, while Ballon Meats has held 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 held its quote from last week of £6.30/kg, paying out up to 22kg of a carcase weight. This equates to €7.15/kg – a slip in price of 10c/kg equivalent due to a change in exchange rates.

Top prices are running 10p/kg to 15p/kg higher, but securing above this is proving hard still, with ABP Linden quoting at £6.25/kg.

The number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter last week increased again to 40,525, which is up roughly 1,600 head on last week, with exports to Britain still low at 2,200 head.

The latest Agriculture Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) price report shows British prices remaining static alongside Irish prices and running at an average of £6.62/kg (€7.51/kg).