This week's sheep trade has seen factory quotes rise for hoggets, while most outlets moved to revise their cull ewe price offerings upwards also.

Factories are now turning their attention to this season's lamb supply also with confirmation at least one outlet is sourcing 'milk lambs' with 10-14kg carcass-weights.

Spring lambs have not started to appear in any major numbers yet, but processors are starting to make enquiries and the first official quotes for spring lambs could be as early as next week.

Sheep trade: Factory prices

This week, Kepak is quoting €7.75/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €7.90/kg on offer up to 23kg carcass-weight.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €4.40-€4.50/kg for cull ewes.

Kepak also confirmed to Agriland it is sourcing 'milk lambs' as well as spring lambs. Farmers can contact the outlet for details.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass-weight.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €4.30/kg for cull ewes again this week.

Kildare Chilling has no official quote for hoggets this week but sources have told Agriland the outlet is paying up to €8.20/kg for hoggets.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €4.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes with carcass weights from 35-43kg.

For cull ewes from 25-35kg carcass-weight, Kildare Chilling is quoting €4.20 plus a 10c/kg QA bonus, leaving €4.30/kg on offer here.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €7.80/kg for hoggets this week. The outlet is quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes again this week.

Sheep factory kill numbers

Factory supplies of sheep have been tightening in recent weeks with just over 38,000 sheep slaughtered in the week ending Sunday, March 1 (week 9).

This is almost 10,700 head or 22% below the same week of last year.

The 2026 sheep kill-to-date is up 2% or 6,400 head on this time last year.

Just under 309,000 sheep have been slaughtered to date this year.

In the week ending Sunday, February 22, just under 41,000 head of sheep were slaughtered, which was almost 3,000 head below the same week of last year.

While week nine supplies were below last year, the total sheep kill-to-date this year is running 2% or over 8,200 head above last year.