Significant downward pressure on the sheep trade in Northern Ireland appears to have eased slightly.

Base quotes earlier in the week looked set to be heading for £6.10/kg (€6.92/kg) for Thursday, but an improvement in demand has left quotes at £6.20/kg, down 10p/kg on the previous week.

It is hoped that Tuesday evening’s announcement by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) lifting the suspension of live sheep exports to Britain with immediate effect will help work through the backlog of sheep in the market and help steady the trade.

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Such exports have been suspended since Monday 1 December.

In the preceding week, 1,564 sheep were exported to Britain for direct slaughter, with a similar number thought to have been exported under the breeding and production certificate with many of these sold on in marts or abattoirs in Britain.

The number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter last week reduced by about 400 head to 3,482, with the export figure down 1,500 on the average of the previous three weeks.

The lamb trade in Ireland is unchanged. The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants continue to quote a base of €7.60/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Ballon Meats is quoting €7.80kg, all-in and Kildare Chilling is quoting €7.60/kg plus their 10c/kg QA payment.

A high percentage of lambs traded from producers with lower negotiating power are trading in the region of €7.80/kg, while groups and regular sellers are being paid €7.90/kg to €8/kg.

Reports indicate these sellers continue to face strong challenges in topping the €8/kg mark, with this price confined to deals at the top end of the market.

Supply and demand remains balanced, with last week’s kill unchanged at 38,086.

This is 3,179 head lower than the corresponding week in 2025.

It is interesting to note that the kill in 2024 jumped by over 4,000 head and was followed by a further increase of 3,500 head as factories increased quotes by 30c/kg to attract higher numbers forward.

There is no such appetite this year, with current quotes stagnant and running 70c/kg or over €15 lower on a 22.5kg carcase.

The ewe trade is also unchanged. The two ICM plants remain at €4.30/kg, with Kildare Chilling not quoting for ewes for the rest of this week.

Reports indicate other plants not officially quoting are operating in the same territory for ewes with prices ranging in the main from €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg. Ballon Meats continue to trend well ahead in terms of its offering of €5/kg for good-quality ewes.

Prices in Britain firmed last week, with the AHDB reporting an average lamb price of £7.13/kg (€8.09/kg). However, reports indicate prices have stagnated this week as higher numbers come out.