Factories in Northern Ireland increased sheep throughput last week by about 840 head, lifting the sheep kill above 10,000 head for the first time in 2025. Reduced exports out of Northern Ireland due to the bluetongue virus has created a backlog of sheep in the market although the lifting of the suspension of sheep exports to Britain has greatly helped demand.

DAERA figures show 1,720 sheep exported last week for direct slaughter with no figures published on numbers exported under the breed and production certificate. The number of sheep exported from Northern Ireland to Ireland for direct slaughter fell by about 600 head to 2,887. Quotes for Thursday are steady at £6.20/kg to £6.30/kg (€7.05/kg to €7.16/kg).

Meanwhile base quotes in factories in Ireland are unchanged at a base of €7.70/kg to €7.80/kg for quality assured lambs. .

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