The sharp fall-off in sheep throughput continues with recent week’s sheep throughput running upwards of 30% lower than the corresponding period in 2024. Last week’s kill was recorded at just 38,064 head. This is a fall of over 300 head on the previous week and is a massive reduction of 19,471 head, or 34% drop, when compared to the corresponding week in 2024.

Throughput for the year to date of 1.51m head is now running over 360,000 head, or 19% lower than in 2024.

The shortfall in throughput is similar to the reduction of over 370,000 head recorded for the full year in 2024 and is creating significant processing challenges for factories with many working on a three-day week or operating shorter kill days.

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The tightening in supply is showing signs of inserting some more life in to the trade. Demand was stagnant in recent weeks, but reports this week indicate some agents starting to contact producers to gauge available supplies.

This is a significant change from recent weeks, where agents showed little interest and were handling smaller numbers.

Opening price quotes are unchanged at €7.80/kg for quality assured lambs, but there are more deals reported at a price of €7.90/kg to €8/kg.