This week's sheep trade sees prices as high as €8.00/kg paid for lambs despite price quotes from factories up to 30c/kg below this level.

Ewe price quotes remain unchanged from last week but lamb price quotes have seen up to 10c/kg added to them in cases.

The total sheep kill to date this year is down 10% or over 230,000 head with the lamb kill down 9% or 103,000 head.

Lambs are generally being quoted at €7.50/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus leaving €7.70/kg on offer in these cases.

Heavy ewes are being quoted at prices ranging from €3.90-4.10/kg with some outlets paying up to €4.40/kg for heavy ewes this week.

Kilkenny Mart hosted its weekly sheep sale on Monday, November 11, with 550 head of sheep on offer.

Butcher lambs sold for up to €190/head with a batch of 31 lambs with an average weight of 55kg selling for €3.45/kg or €190/head.

Another batch of five lambs with an average weight of 58kg sold for €3.28/kg or €190/head.

Factory lambs sold for up to €180/head with a batch of 12 lambs with an average weight of 48kg selling for €3.75/kg or €180/head.

A group of 19 lambs with an average weight of 42kg sold for €3.60/kg or €151/head.

Store lambs sold for up to €146/head with a pen of 14 lambs with an average weight of 35kg selling for €4.17/kg or €146/head.

A batch of 24 lambs with an average weight of 28kg sold for €4.00/kg or €112/head.

Cast ewes sold for prices ranging from €60-200/head.