There is a sharper tone to the sheep trade this week, with buying entering peak activity ahead of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. Factories are lining up to handle higher numbers at the end of this week and start of next week, with the festival running from Tuesday to Saturday.

Interest from live export and wholesale buyers exporting sheep in carcase form has put a big stir in the mart trade in particular, with prices moving ahead of equivalent factory returns as detailed in the mart report below. There is strong demand from a number of European countries, with sheep also being exported live to Algeria.

Base factory quotes for Thursday are unchanged. Hoggets continue to make up 50% to 55% of throughput, with base quotes at €9.20/kg plus the respective quality assurance (QA) payments of 15c/kg to 20c/kg. This leaves sellers with smaller numbers and groups trading in the region of €9.40/kg to €9.50/kg.

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There are reports of deals being completed with specialist finishers and sellers handling large numbers at €9.60/kg and higher in cases for sheep ticking all the boxes. Some factories are looking for lighter ram hoggets with tails, and are earmarking these for next week’s kill.

Base lamb quotes are also unchanged and range from €9.80/kg to €9.90/kg plus the 20c/kg QA payment. The general run of prices is in the region of €10/kg to €10.10/kg but farmers handling significant numbers and with good supply relationships are securing 10c/kg to 20c/kg above the going rate.

Last week’s kill was recorded at just 32,121 head. This comprised 18,938 hoggets, down about 500 head on the corresponding week in 2025 and 7,906 lambs, which is 2,904 head lower than in 2025 and 5,277 ewes and rams, which is 2,270 head up on 2025.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is unchanged, with Kildare Chilling quoting €5.10/kg, the two Irish Country Meats plants €5.30/kg and Ballon Meats €5.50/kg. Demand is variable, with some plants said to be focusing on hoggets and lambs while a number of abattoirs are active for ewes. Prices at the top end of the market range from €5.50/kg to €5.70/kg in such plants, with significant numbers being purchased through mart sales.

Northern Ireland

Factories in Northern Ireland have ceased quoting for hoggets this week, but reports indicate they are still purchasing at a similar opening offer of £8/kg (€9.26/kg) and paying 20p/kg to 30p/kg higher to agents handling significant numbers. ABP has upped its lamb quote by 10p/kg to £9.10/kg (€10.53/kg), with Dunbia unchanged on £9/kg (€10.41/kg). Last week’s sheep kill was recorded at 7,963, up about 2,300 head on the previous week. Reports indicate factories were gearing up to fill orders for Eid al-Adha.

The number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter was unchanged at 1,296 head, while exports live to Britain increased by over 700 head to 2,732.