This week's sheep trade sees cull ewe prices remain firm while hogget prices has been cut and spring lamb prices has also been cut at one outlet but held at other outlets.

With the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha approaching on Friday, June 6, which is just over three weeks away, there had been some hope that hogget and lamb prices would see a rise this week as the festival traditionally sees a spike in lamb demand.

Approximately 20c/kg has been cut from hogget prices, with the spring-lamb price generally more steady for now and the cull-ewe trade remaining as strong as ever.

Farmers have told Agriland the top prices available this week are €9.20/kg for spring lambs, €8.60/kg for hoggets, and €5.90/kg and above in cases for cull ewes.

This week, Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs leaving €9.20/kg on offer here again this week.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlet is quoting €8.30/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €8.50/kg on offer here. This price is back 20c/kg from last week. ICM is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes.

Kepak is quoting €8.95/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg carcase weight leaving €9.10/kg on offer here.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €8.15/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23kg carcass weight, leaving €8.30/kg on offer here. Kepak is quoting €5.50-5.60/kg for cull ewes.

Kildare Chilling has no official quotes for this week. Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €5.60/kg for cull ewes and €8.60/kg for hoggets.

Just over 730,000 sheep have been slaughtered this year as of Sunday, May 4, according to the latest Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) sheep kill figures.

This year's overall sheep kill is down 17% or 148,000 head on last year with the hogget kill down 124,000 head or 16%. The cull ewe/ram kill is down 34% or 29,000 head and the spring lamb kill is up 4,700 head to 24,000.

The sheep trade at Kilkenny Mart today (Monday, May 12) was described as "disappointing" by auctioneer George Candler, with spring lamb prices reducing by at least €15/head compared to last week.

Candler said the price trend is "not a great advert for the expansion of the sheep flock.

""The lack of interest from factories will not encourage sheep producers to increase numbers and not many young farmers are showing much interest," he added.

The top call in the sheep sale at Kilkenny today was €213 for a pen of 57kg spring lambs.

Spring lambs made from €3.45-4.10/kg or €180-213/head. Sample prices included €205/head for a pen of 50kg spring lambs and €188/head for a pen of 47kg spring lambs.

Factory lambs made from €140-188/head with a pen of 44kg lambs making €181/head and a pen of 35kg lambs making €142/head.

Hoggets made from €160-205/head with 20 hoggets with an average weight of 66kg selling for €202/head.

Cull ewes made from €90-320/head.