British meat traders are flooding the European market with large quantities of cheaper sheepmeat as Brexit looms.

Irish factories say this is making the market increasingly difficult to trade in.

Farmers have been hit this week with another price cut of 10c/kg to 15c/kg.

Base quotes for Thursday range from €4.40/kg to €4.60/kg, with individual producers securing returns of €4.55/kg to €4.70/kg for quality assured lamb. Top prices are curtailed at €4.75/kg to €4.80/kg as the week progresses.

Factories point to an increasingly challenging trading environment, citing much higher supplies of UK sheepmeat being pushed onto the market in advance of the 31 October Brexit deadline.

This sheepmeat is said to be offered at below market prices to move higher volumes.

The UK moves are distorting the market, with a growing case for Irish sheep farmers to be included in any Brexit-related compensation fund.

AHDB figures show that UK farmers are pulling forward finishing dates in anticipation of a no-deal Brexit, and that UK sheep production in July jumped 9.9% to 25,200t.

Part of this hike could be attributed to lower drought-related production in 2018, but even so, year-to-date production and export volumes are running much higher.

Meanwhile breeding sales were better in the last week, with average prices rising by €5 to €10 for hoggets. The Borris Ewe Breeders Association sale saw hogget prices increasing anywhere from €20 to €30 per head.

Demand is helped by good grass supplies and a continued strong cull ewe trade reducing the cost of incorporating replacements.

Farmers are also keen to get replacements on hand, so that cull ewes can be sold while abiding by retention rules in the Sheep Welfare Scheme.