Factory agents continue to dig in hard on base quotes for lambs. The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) and Dawn Meats plants continue to quote a base of €7.70/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance payment. Ballon Meats is quoting a higher all-in price of €8/kg.

The stagnant quotes are frustrating many producer groups which are hearing reports of higher-priced deals being paid to regular sellers and those handling big numbers.

Reports show some farmers negotiating returns of €8.10/kg, with some higher-priced deals of €8.20/kg to €8.30/kg reserved for certain sellers trading at the top of the market.

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This is also evident in mart sales, where agents are active for limited supplies of top-quality lambs.

Factory agents are trying to encourage farmers with such lambs to opt to trade direct with factories rather than sell live and have increased paid carcase weight limits by 0.5kg to 22.5kg. This is worth an extra €4/head for lambs utilising the increased weight limit.

Last week’s sheep kill was unchanged at 46,499 head. Lamb throughput of 37,600 is running 5,305 head higher than the corresponding week in 2025, while the ewe and ram kill of 8,799 is 2,977 head higher.

Reports indicate that numbers have tightened this week, which tallies with agents being more anxious to tie into deals and keen for higher supplies from producer groups.

Agents have also been more active in competing for lambs in Northern Ireland.

The number of sheep imported from Northern Ireland for direct slaughter last week increased by about 600 head to 3,431, while the number of sheep exported for direct slaughter to Britain jumped from 482 a fortnight ago to 1,712 last week.

Factories in Northern Ireland are keen to handle more sheep domestically and have increased base quotes by 5p/kg to 10p/kg. Quotes for Thursday range from £6.85/kg in ABP to £6.90/kg in Dunbia. This is the equivalent of €7.97/kg to €8.03/kg excluding VAT, with quotes moving well ahead of equivalent base quotes in Ireland. Top prices have now risen above the £7/kg mark (€8.15/kg).

Carcase weight limits remain 1kg behind Irish plants at 21.5kg carcase weight, but sellers with greater negotiating power are being paid to 22kg in many cases.

Reports show prices in Britain firming by 5p/kg to 10p/kg and heading towards an average price of £7.20/kg (€8.38/kg).

Ewe trade

The ewe trade remains subdued, with opening quotes ranging from €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg.

A high percentage of ewes are trading from €4.40/kg to €4.60/kg, with Ballon Meats and other abattoirs specialising in the ewe trade paying upwards of €5/kg for choice ewes.

Sellers should be careful of ewes lacking flesh cover, with significant price deductions for ewes deemed underweight and under-fleshed.