There is a slightly brighter tone to the lamb trade in recent days, with some factory agents contacting producers to check on potential supplies, something which has been absent from the trade in recent weeks.

The timeline from booking to getting lambs slaughtered is also reduced.

There is no change to official quotes which continue at €7.60/kg plus the 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment in the two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants, €7.70/kg plus 10c/kg in Kildare Chilling and €7.80/kg, all-in, in Ballon Meats.

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Regular sellers and groups are securing returns in the main ranging from €7.85/kg to €7.90/kg.

However, there have been more sellers who have had some success in recent days exceeding this range, with top prices rising to €8/kg to €8.05/kg and a shade higher in cases.

The slight lift in appetite appears to be driven by a tightening in numbers in recent weeks. Last week’s sheep kill reduced by just over 300 head, with 38,064 sheep slaughtered.

The two weeks where the kill exceeded 42,000 head over a fortnight ago, and which coincided with downward price pressure, were short lived.

The kill is running 19,471 head, or 34% lower than the corresponding week in 2024. Year-to-date throughput is now running at more than 360,000 head lower and close to matching the fall in throughput recorded in 2024.

Ewes and rams comprised 5,288 head, with this figure 2,202 head or almost 30% lower year-on-year.

The brief increase in the ewe and ram kill recorded a few weeks ago and drop in British ewe prices allowed factories to get more control of the trade.

There were some agents trying to talk the trade down further, but this has not gained traction.

Quotes in the two ICM plants are €4.30/kg followed by €4.40/kg plus 10c/kg QA in Kildare for better-quality ewes, while Ballon Meats remain well ahead of their competitors at €5.20/kg.

Northern Ireland

The sheep kill in Northern Ireland is in contrast with Ireland, with last week’s throughput increasing by over 500 head to reach 8,891.

Factories increased quotes by 5p/kg to 10p/kg to £6.50/kg (€7.52/kg) in order to compete with agents purchasing on behalf of southern plants and also lifted weight limits to 22kg to rival plants in the south. While groups and regular sellers secured 10p/kg to 15p/kg above base quotes.

Despite these moves, agents purchasing for direct slaughter in southern plants increased activity, resulting in the number of sheep exported increasing by 2,157 sheep and reaching 4,824 head.

The number of sheep exported for direct slaughter to Britain remains low at 182 head. The latest AHDB price report shows numbers tightening in Britain, resulting in prices rebounding slightly and rising by 10p/kg to average £6.70/kg (€7.75/kg).