The sheep trade remains unchanged.

While the supply of lambs is running well behind the corresponding period in 2024, it is satisfying factory demand with no appetite to handle more sheep.

Opening quotes for quality assured (QA) lambs are in the region of €7.80/kg.

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The two Irish Country Meats plants are quoting €7.60/kg plus 20c/kg QA, while Ballon Meats are quoting €7.80/kg all-in and Kildare Chilling are quoting a base of €7.70/kg plus 10c/kg QA.

Groups and regular sellers are securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.

The number of sheep trading above €7.90/kg is small but there are some deals completed at €8/kg to €8.05/kg where group payment terms include a higher bonus payment and no subsidy on transport or to sellers/agents with long-standing relations to supply big numbers.

Last week’s sheep kill was recorded at 41,468 head.

Throughput

This was marginally up by 868 head on the previous week, but throughput continues to lag well behind 2025 levels.

The kill was 16,308 head lower than the corresponding week in 2025, with year-to-date throughput running 395,867 head higher.

The ewe trade is also unchanged, with the majority of plants offering a price in the region of €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg while Ballon Meats remains well out in front with their base quote for good-quality ewes of €5.20/kg.

Many agents are cautioning about possible cuts for light carcase ewes or ewes lacking significant flesh cover. If in doubt it is worth checking with the plant before moving ewes, with prices penalties of upwards of €1/kg imposed.

Northern Ireland

Plants in Northern Ireland are trying to pull prices by 5p/kg. ABP are quoting a base lamb price of £6.40/kg (€7.38/kg) for Thursday with Dunbia 5p/kg higher at £6.45/kg (€7.44/kg). Regular sellers are still securing £6.50/kg with prices at the higher end of the market 5p/kg higher.

The sheep kill continues to buck the trends witnessed in other countries, with throughput of 9,018 head about 50 head higher than last week.

The is no official import and export data for last week but reports indicate that exports to Ireland for direct slaughter remain in the region of 3,500 head.

While exports to Britain are in the region of 1,500 head for breeding/production and about 500 head for direct slaughter.

Global round-up

The latest Bord Bia sheep price dashboard shows Spanish lamb averaging €9.54/kg, up 60c/kg on last year. Prices continue to be driven by tight supply.

French lamb prices of €8.70/kg are almost 80c/kg lower than in 2024 with demand reported as being stagnant. Prices in Britain are the equivalent of €7.73/kg which is about 13c/kg above the corresponding week in 2024.

This is ahead of the Irish price of €7.47/kg which does not include the flat rate VAT addition of 5% for farmers not registered for VAT.