Lamb prices remain unchanged this week, with base quotes remaining at €7.60/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Camolin and Navan edge Kildare Chilling by means of their 10c/kg higher quality assurance (QA) payment of 20c/kg, while Ballon Meats remains on €7.80/kg.

Plants not offering an official quote are also operating in the region of €7.60/kg or €7.70/kg when QA payments are included.

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A high percentage of lambs continue to trade within a price range of €7.80/kg to €7.90/kg. There are some groups securing €8/kg for lambs by means of conformation bonuses, while regular sellers or those handling large numbers and trading at the top of the market are having some success in negotiating €8/kg-plus.

There is a greater spotlight on carcase weights for a number of reasons. The two ICM plants’ move to 23kg carcase weight has put pressure on competing plants.

Kildare Chilling moved to 23kg midweek, while reports indicate plants not offering an official quote are paying to 23kg carcase weight to varying degrees.

The other reason there is a spotlight on carcase weight is due to increased reports from factory procurement regarding the percentage of lambs deemed overweight or overfat.

Some groups are already operating to carcase weight limits whereby price deductions are imposed above a certain weight limit.

This now looks like it may be expanded beyond groups, with agents conditioning producers about potential cuts above 25kg carcase weight.

ICM general manager James Smyth told the Irish Farmers Journal that the percentage of lambs falling outside of their desired specification has declined significantly in recent weeks, with markets reacting negatively to the amount of out-of-spec lambs on the market.

James said that ICM is actively speaking with its supply base to encourage them to move any heavier carcases immediately and before a new payment mechanism is introduced in the coming weeks.

This, he said, is likely to include payment penalties on carcases exceeding 25kg.

The ICM man also cautioned that with current market dynamics, he does not see the paid carcase weight limit lifting above 23kg in the first half of 2026.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is static, with most plants quoting €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg.

Sellers handling significant numbers are securing upwards of €4.50/kg, while at the top end of the market, plants and abattoirs specialising in the ewe trade are paying upwards of €5/kg.

Northern Ireland

Plants have increased their quote by 10p/kg to £6.40/kg to £6.45/kg (€7.34/kg to €7.40/kg), with sellers trading at the top end of the market having success negotiating returns of £6.60/kg.