This week's sheep trade has seen processors move to cut prices for ewes and hoggets and hold spring lamb prices for the first half of the week.

Up to 50c/kg has been cut from both cull ewe and hogget prices this week, with hogget price now having fallen €1.30/kg since the start of April.

The price cuts come ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha on Friday, June 6, and many farmers had expected price rises in the sheep trade in advance of this, but to date this has failed to materialise.

This week, Kepak is quoting €7.35/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for hoggets up to 23kg carcass-weight, leaving €7.50/kg on offer here. This offer is back 50c/kg from last Monday.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon-based factory is quoting €8.85/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg carcass-weight leaving €9.00/kg on offer here - the same price as last week.

Kepak is quoting €5.00-€5.10/kg for cull ewes up to 46kg carcase weight. This price is back 50c/kg from last week.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg carcase weight leaving €9.20/kg on offer here until Tuesday, May 27. This price is at the same level as last week.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford based outlet is quoting €7.50/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23g carcase weight leaving €7.70/kg on offer here. This price is back 30c/kg from last week.

ICM is quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes - back 50c/kg from last week.

Kildare Chilling has no official quotes this week but sources have told Agriland the outlet is paying €7.50/kg for hoggets and €8.80-9.00/kg for QA spring lambs. It is understood the processor has less interest in cull ewes this week but is paying €5/kg for these.

There was a smaller sale of sheep at Kilkenny Mart today (Monday, May 26) with 350 head on offer.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, auctioneer George Chandler said: "Spring lambs met a better trade this week especially ram lambs which attracted more interest due to the Eid al-Adha festival."

Spring lamb prices at the sale peaked at €227/head for 10 lambs averaging 48kg. Another pen of 10 ram lambs weighing 42kg made €184/head.

Hoggets made from €180-200/head in the sale with 25 hoggets weighing 59kg each making €200/head. Another 19 hoggets weighing 66kg each made €199/head.

Cull ewes made from €70-320/head in the sale.