Some green shoots have emerged on lamb prices over the last week, despite factories working hard to keep a lid on price.
O’Flynn Meats in Co Waterford has increased its all-in quote by 10c/kg to €8.40/kg, leaving it well ahead of the main factories, which are holding base quote in the region of €7.90/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.
Reports indicate that O’Flynn Meats is purchasing higher numbers and that this is inserting more life into the trade in some areas, resulting in regular sellers handling larger numbers having greater success in securing €8.30/kg.
There are also deals being negotiated to 23kg carcase weight, despite factories also trying to keep a lid on limits.
Some deals have emerged at €8.35/kg and higher in factories, but, to date, these have been in the minority.
Producer groups are trading on average at €8.20/kg, with many of these deals also covering transport costs, with a few groups trading at €8.30/kg, but with fewer add-ons.
At the lower end of the market, there are still prices of €8.10/kg to €8.20/kg being offered to farmers handling small numbers.
Mart managers report some of these producers are opting to market lambs live over the last week.
Sheep throughput is steady, with last week’s sheep kill rising by about 300 head to 42,377. This comprises almost 35,000 lambs and hoggets and 7,490 ewes and rams and is running 6,322 higher than the corresponding week in 2025, which was well below the five-year average.
Demand for ewes is unchanged to slightly weaker in some plants, with Dawn Kildare back 10c/kg to a base of €4.40/kg.
The two ICM plants are quoting €4.30/kg, while, at the higher end of the market, Ballon Meats and O’Flynn Meats are offering a price of €5/kg for quality ewes.
Northern Ireland
Last week’s kill in Ireland was boosted by 5,230 sheep exported for direct slaughter, almost 2,150 head higher than the previous week.
Base quotes in Northern Ireland (NI) are unchanged this week, ranging from £6.85/kg to £6.90/kg. This equates to €8.19/kg to €8.25/kg at an exchange rate of 83.6p to the euro and without any VAT rate addition.
Prices at the top end of the market are hitting £7/kg and upwards, which equates to €8.37/kg, with NI prices trending ahead of Ireland.
Analysis of slaughtering and import/export figures shows sheep output running over 52,000 head or 7.6% higher. This is underpinned by slaughterings in plants in NI running over 43,000 head higher, with plants exhibiting a greater appetite for stock.
The number of sheep exported for direct slaughter is running at 243,892 head, just 3,025 higher than in 2025, while exports to farms of 137,911 head is running 6,296 head or 4.8% higher.
