This week's sheep trade has seen factory price cuts to both spring lambs and hoggets as the cull ewe trade has remained strong.

Some outlets have cut up to 50c/kg from their official price quotes for spring lambs and cull ewes since last Monday, April 14.

Despite these price cuts to lambs, cull ewe prices have managed to increase at some outlets for this week with farmers telling Agriland up to €6/kg is available for cull ewes of certain carcase specifications this week.

The top prices farmers have told Agriland are available for lambs and hoggets this week are €9.50/kg and €9.20/kg respectively.

Easter is traditionally a peak season for spring lamb demand and the sheep trade price cuts have come following the end of the Easter celebrations. There is some level of confidence prices could pick up again in advance of the Muslim festival of Eid al Adha in early June.

This week, Kepak is quoting €9.05/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg leaving €9.20/kg on offer here.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon, site is quoting €8.55/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23kg leaving €8.70/kg on offer here.

Kepak is quoting €8.40/kg and €8.50/kg for cull ewes up to 46kg carcase weight.

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.

ICM is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23kg leaving €8.70/kg on offer here.

The Camolin, Co. Wexford and Navan, Co. Meath-based processor is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes.

Kildare Chilling has no official quote for spring lambs this week. The processor is quoting €8.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23kg leaving €8.70/kg on offer here.

The processor is quoting €5.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes with carcase weights from 35-43kg leaving €5.70/kg on offer here.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €5.50/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes with carcase weights from 25-35kg leaving €5.60/kg on offer here.