Farmers selling sheep are being met with a more challenging trading environment, with factories reducing base quotes for Monday by 20c/kg to 30c/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats plants were paying €9.50/kg plus its 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment on Monday and, at present, are quoting a lower base of €9.30/kg plus 20c/kg QA for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Dawn Meats plants also reduced by 20c/kg. Dawn Kildare’s quote for Monday was €9.40/kg plus 20c/kg QA, with the plant not slaughtering sheep on Tuesday.

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Reports indicate Kepak was working off a similar base price and its 15c/kg QA payment on Monday.

Lamb numbers are reported as remaining relatively tight, but plants are willing to do with lower numbers. The tightness in supplies is evident in mart sales, which remain small for the time of year.

Prices reported over the weekend and on Monday are on average €5 to €8 per head lower, with some marts which enjoyed higher prices last week reporting a higher price fall.

Kilkenny Mart

Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler reported prices falling by €8 per head, but as high as €18 per head in cases for heavier lambs compared with the previous week.

Top-quality lambs weighing 52kg to 55kg are reported as trading from €218 to €224 on Monday, while lighter lambs weighing 48kg to 51kg sold from €195 to €209.

Prices for lambs weighing 45kg to 47kg ranged in the main from €180 to €190, with lambs weighing back to 42kg selling from €170 to €176.

Ennis Mart

Ennis Mart reported a smaller sheep sale of 520 sheep on offer on Monday. Average prices were €5 to €7 per head lower than last week.

Lambs weighing 49kg to 52kg sold from €216 to €220 per head, with lambs weighing 47kg to 48kg selling from €200 to €208 for quality types and back under €200/head for plainer-quality lots.

Lambs weighing 44kg sold from €178 to €186, showing the differential between lambs of a similar weight and varying quality, while lighter lots around the 41kg mark sold from the mid-€160s to mid-€170s.