The sheep trade in Ireland has been dominated for much of 2025 by low throughput, with the kill on target to finish the year in the region of 440,000 head lower.

When combined with reduced throughput of over 377,000 head in 2024, the sheep kill will have fallen by a massive figure of over 800,000 head (or by about 25% when compared with 2023 levels) in the space of just two years.

Factory throughput this week was low, with most plants slaughtering at reduced capacity on Monday and Tuesday.

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Prices were unchanged, with the two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants continuing to operate at a base of €7.60/kg plus their 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Meanwhile, Kildare Chilling was also unchanged at €7.60/kg plus 10c/kg QA payment and Ballon Meats did not process this week (reopening Monday 29 December).

Reports indicate plants not offering an official quote are on similar opening quotes to Kildare of €7.70/kg for QA lambs.

There is still price pressure at the top end of the market, with an upper price range of €7.80/kg to €7.90/kg buying a high percentage of producer group lambs and lambs traded by regular sellers.

There are some deals being completed at €8/kg, but with much lower frequency than in recent weeks.

Plants are also holding tough on 22.5kg carcase weight, with only some groups and sellers trading at the top end of the market having success on the back of written agreements on time-specific weight limits.

Some factories have started to caution producers about an increasing percentage of overweight or overfat lambs.

Quotes remain unchanged for next Monday for lambs. There is less interest in ewes at this time of the year, with some plants not quoting for ewes until the middle of next week.

Quotes are unchanged for those that are quoting and ranging at the lower end of the market from €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg on average and rising to upwards of €5/kg in abattoirs such as Ballon Meats for choice ewes.

Northern Ireland

The trade in Northern Ireland is firm, with some reports indicating that any backlog that developed due to bluetongue virus-related movement restrictions has largely passed.

Base quotes remained in the region of £6.30/kg (€7.21/kg), but regular sellers had more success negotiating above quotes.

Groups and regular sellers secured £6.40/kg (€7.33/kg), with some securing an extra 5p/kg to 10p/kg from the market for delivery of significant numbers.

Prices in Britain remain unchanged around the £7/kg mark (€8.01/kg).