The number of breeding ewes over 12 months on farms in Ireland on 31 December 2025 increased by 26,888 head, or 1%, on the previous year.

The figure of 2.49m breeding ewes has defied all expectations, with most industry stakeholders and farmers forecasting a sharp reduction in numbers on the back of the sheep kill falling over 400,000 head in 2025.

The number of other sheep on farms, which encapsulates lambs, wethers, cull ewes, etc, also recorded a significant increase.

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At approximately 1.11m head, this category of sheep rose by 72,639 head, or 6.9% compared to 31 December 2024.

The number of registered holdings keeping sheep increased by 362 to 24,167

This means that there is potentially a higher number of sheep available for slaughter in the first half of 2026 or higher numbers of ewe hoggets that could be retained for breeding.

The number of registered holdings keeping sheep increased by 362 to 24,167, with the Department reporting that 1,482 sheep flocks were either newly approved or reactivated to keep sheep in 2025.

Factories have increased their base quotes by 30c/kg to 40c/kg this week

Further analysis will be available online and on next week’s sheep page.

Meanwhile, hogget quotes continue to rise on the back of a further tightening in supplies.

Factories have increased their base quotes by 30c/kg to 40c/kg this week, leaving them in the region of €9.30/kg to €9.40/kg.

Dawn Meats has also increased its quality assurance (QA) payment from 10c/kg to 20c/kg.

Opening prices are in the region of €9.60/kg for QA hoggets, with regular sellers and those with greater negotiating power securing €9.70/kg to €9.80/kg.

There are some reports of €9.90/kg to €10/kg paid at the top end. Spring lambs remain at €10/kg to €10.20/kg.

Quotes in NI factories are up 10p/kg for hoggets to £8.40/kg (€9.66/kg), with lambs up 20p/kg to £9/kg (€10.35/kg).