The number of lambs coming on stream is, in the main, satisfying demand, with no pressure on factories to increase prices paid.
The two Irish Country Meats plants and Dawn Kildare continue to quote base prices of €7.90/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment, leaving opening prices on offer at €8.10/kg.
Ballon Meats is quoting €8/kg all-in, while O’Flynn Meats is unchanged at €8.30/kg.
The majority of producer groups and regular sellers are trading in the region of €8.20/kg.
A couple of groups are being paid €8.30/kg by means of a higher group payment agreement, while, at the top end of the market, regular sellers handling significant numbers are also trading in the region of €8.25/kg to €8.30/kg.
Lamb throughput has been steady in recent weeks and is trending slightly ahead of the corresponding period in 2025.
It should be noted that this level of throughput is below the five-year average.
Lamb throughput last week was recorded at 34,947 head, about 400 higher than the previous week and 3,258 higher than the corresponding week in 2025.
Ewe and ram throughput of 6,456 head was 1,335 lower, with plants focusing more on lambs with a day less processing. The ewe and ram kill figure was 2,144 head higher than the corresponding week in 2025.
Prices paid for ewes remains unchanged. The larger factories are typically offering an opening price of €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg, with prices at the higher end of the market in such plants ranging from €4.50/kg to €4.70/kg. Plants or abattoirs active for top-quality ewes continue to pay upwards of €5/kg for choice ewes.
Many plants continue to pay a higher price for heavier carcase ewes and are also penalising ewes lacking flesh cover and killing at lighter weights.
This should be borne in mind before drafting ewes, with the mart trade a better alternative in some cases where buyers of ewes have greater negotiating power.
Northern Ireland
Base quotes in Northern Ireland are also steady, with plants quoting £6.85/kg to £6.90/kg.
The recent strengthening in the value of euro to sterling remains and at 83.3p to the euro equates to €8.22/kg to €8.28/kg.
The number of sheep exported south for direct slaughter remains in the region of 3,000 head, while exports to Britain for direct slaughter increased fourfold to 1,793 head.
Figures published for exports to Britain under the store and breeding cert show 9,407 head exported during October, down about 3,500 on September.
Numbers exported for the year to date under this cert total 121,341, over 24,000 head higher than in 2025, while numbers exported to Britain for direct slaughter are shy of 100,000 head, up almost 65,000.
