This week's sheep trade has seen price cuts from previous weeks reversed with up to 25c/kg added to hogget prices in some cases as the Muslim festival of Ramadan commences on the evening of Friday, February 28.

There are a number of key dates in the Muslim calendar and these, as well as the Christian festival of Easter, are traditionally associated with additional demand for Irish lamb.

While the increases have seen up to €9.00/kg officially quoted by processors this week, farmers have reported that as high as €9.30/kg is on offer for hoggets.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) president Sean McNamara is advising farmers to hold out for €9.50/kg.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes and €8.80/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for hoggets leaving €9.00/kg on offer for hoggets here.

Kepak Athleague is quoting €4.90-5.00/kg for heavier-type ewes depending on carcass specifications and the outlet is quoting €8.75/kg for QA hoggets.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €5.20/kg for "select ewes" with carcasses grading an E2, E3 and U2 as well as U3. Regular ewes with carcass weights ranging from 25-40kg are being quoted at €4.90/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.80/kg for hoggets and €5.20/kg for cull ewes this week.

Latest sheep kill figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show that overall sheep supplies at DAFM-approved factories is down 29% or 73,500 head to date, this year.

DAFM figures show a total of just over 35,200 sheep were slaughtered in week five of this year down 34% or 18,000 head from the same week of 2024.

Hogget supplies in week five of this year failed to reach 31,500 head which is down 35% or 16,600 head from the same week of last year.