This week’s sheep trade has seen an uplift in prices after a few weeks of a relatively steady trade and at least two outlets have moved to increase their carcass weight limits by a half-a-kilo.
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures show sheep kill numbers have dropped off significantly since week 40 of this year and in the week ending Sunday, November 24, (week 47) just over 35,700 sheep were slaughtered, a drop of almost 24,000 or 40% on the same week of 2023.
Sheep trade sources indicate processors are keen for finished lambs in the lead up to Christmas and with lamb supplies down both within Ireland and across Europe and demand remaining firm, prices are on the rise.
In general this week, fat ewes are being quoted at €4.00-4.10/kg with €3.50/kg being quoted for lighter ewes. At the higher-end of the price scale, up to €4.60/kg is available for fat ewes.
Lamb prices have increased by up to 40c/kg in cases this week.
Outlets that were on €7.60/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus leaving €7.80/kg on offer for QA lambs last week, are quoting €8.00/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus this week leaving €8.20/kg on offer for lambs at these outlets this week.
Irish Country Meats (ICM) in Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford, has increased its carcass weight limit for lambs from 23kg to 23.5kg, an increase of 0.5kg in the carcass weight limit.
Sheep trade at Kilkenny Mart
There was a smaller sale of sheep at Kilkenny Mart on Monday, December 2, with “an excellent trade seen on the day and lambs selling to a top of €206/head and cull ewes selling to a top of €200/head”, according to Kilkenny Mart’s George Candler.
A pen of 21 butcher lambs weighing 57kg made €206/head or €3.61/kg while another pen of seven lambs weighing 53kg sold for €205/head or €3.87/kg.
Factory lambs sold to a top price of €178/head with a pen of eight lambs with an average weight of 47kg selling for €178/head or €3.79/kg. Another pen of 34 lambs weighing 44kg sold for €166/head or €3.67/kg.
In the store lamb sale, a pen of eight lambs with an average weight of 32kg sold for €125/head or €3.91/kg.
Another pen of 10 lambs with an average weight of 39kg sold for €139/head or €3.56/kg.