Lamb throughput has fallen again this past week by over 10%, with 30,402 prime lambs slaughtered, down 4,287 head on the week prior.

A more worrying figure is that the number is down 25% on the same week last year, when over 40,000 lambs were slaughtered.

This week’s fall in numbers brings the total fall off in spring lamb slaughterings to over 70,000 in 2025.

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While the shorter working week with the bank holiday can be partly to blame, the reality is that throughput could have been matched if factories desired in the four working days.

There have been some marginal increases in heavy lamb prices in marts, but, as such, quotes have remained relatively unchanged from all factories, while some which had been quoting last week are not quoting this week.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) have held their base quote of €7.80/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, with Ballon Meats’s all-in opening quote of €8/kg also remaining unchanged.

Kildare Chilling is operating at a base quote of €7.90/kg plus 10c/kg QA, with a carcase limit of 21.5kg.

Kepak or Dawn had no official quote for the week.

It is understood that the two western factories are operating at a similar price range to others. Ballon Meats has set the top price for spring lamb again this week, with an all-in quote of €8.20/kg.

Very few farmers are seeing prices above €8/kg, with producer groups said to be battling hard to secure €8.10/kg.

The number of hoggets fell back again this week, with just 413 hoggets slaughtered.

The two ICM plants are currently quoting €6.80/kg plus 10c/kg QA (unchanged from last week), while Kildare Chilling is working off a valuation.

Cull ewes also remain unchanged from last week in general, with the two ICM plants offering a quote of €4.50/kg, with Kildare Chilling operating from €4.40/kg plus 10c/kg QA for ewes under 35kg to €4.90/kg plus 10c/kg QA for ewes of a high carcase conformation between 35kg and 43kg; the very same as last week.

Ballon Meats tops the quotes at €5.20/kg.

Farmers have continued the trend of presenting heavy ewes for live sale, as opposed to selling direct to factories, especially those ewes likely to breach the 43kg to 46kg weight cut-off limit imposed by certain marts.

Northern Ireland

ABP Linden and Dunbia Dungannon have risen quotes by 10p/kg this week with a base quote of 690p/kg on offer (€7.99) which is relatively on par with southern quotes.

As is the case in the south, regular sellers are eking out 10p to 15p/kg more from factories.

Agents handling significant numbers are achieving higher returns to allow them compete in the market, with buyers purchasing sheep for exporting to Ireland and Britain remaining active.