There is significant pressure on the sheep trade this week, with prices reducing by upwards of 10c/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants have reduced their base quote for Thursday by 10c/kg to €7.60/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Other plants which did not increase their base quote in recent weeks but which were paying well in excess of their base quote have pulled prices paid back closer in line with quotes.

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Ballon Meats is quoting a price of €7.80/kg, while Kildare Chilling is quoting a base of €7.60/kg plus its 10c/kg quality assurance payment.

Plants not offering an official quote are also operating in the region of an opening price of €7.70/kg for QA lambs.

The reduction in quotes has seen prices paid to producer groups and regular sellers pulled back to €7.90/kg in the main.

Reports indicate that sellers trading at the top end of the market are facing strong resistance above this level, with a much smaller percentage of lambs paid at €8/kg as the week progresses.

Producers with low negotiating power are faced with returns of €7.80/kg or lower in plants offering an opening quote of €7.70/kg for QA lambs.

Farmers have reacted angrily to the cuts and are citing prices already running on average €1/kg lower than the corresponding period in 2025.

Factories are citing challenging market conditions, adding that a significant percentage of carcases are out of spec.

They say that this has become a greater issue in 2026, with the carcase trade becoming more important and accounting for a greater percentage of sale volumes.

Last week’s sheep kill was recorded at 39,617 head. This comprised 35,603 lambs and 4,014 ewes and rams. The kill increased by over 1,250 head on the previous week.

The trade for cull ewes is unchanged, with prices on offer in most plants in the region of €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg.

This is limited in some plants to better-quality ewes, with a lower price on offer for lighter-carcase ewes less than 30kg to 35kg or for ewes killing at fat score one.

If in doubt, it is worth confirming before slaughtering.

Northern Ireland

The trade in Northern Ireland is also under pressure, with base quotes reducing by 15p/kg to 20p/kg on last week.

Factories are quoting a base of £6.30/kg or the equivalent of €7.27/kg.

The number of sheep exported from Northern Ireland to Ireland last week for direct slaughter fell by about 1,000 head to 2,885, while the number of sheep exported to Britain for direct slaughter was recorded at 2,118 head, about 300 lower than the previous week.

Prices in Britain have come under some downward pressure this week, with reports indicating prices have reduced by 10p/kg to 15p/kg and are averaging around £7/kg (€8.08/kg).