This week's sheep trade sees plenty of positivity from factories with rises in weight limits, Quality Assurance (QA) bonuses, and price offers announced this morning (Monday, April 20).

Dawn Meats has confirmed it will increase its QA bonus from €0.10c/kg to €0.20c/kg on both eligible spring lambs and hoggets supplied from this morning.

Its Kildare lamb processing site also confirmed to Agriland that it is increasing the weight limit on hoggets from 23kg to 23.5kg carcass-weight.

As well as this, Irish Country Meats (ICM), Kepak, and some of the smaller processing outlets have raised their price offers on hoggets for this week.

Sheep trade: Factory prices

This week, Kepak is quoting €10.00/kg for QA spring lambs up to 21kg carcass-weight.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €5.30-€5.40/kg for cull ewes.

Kepak is quoting €9.35/kg plus a €0.15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets this week up to 23kg carcass-weight, leaving €9.50/kg on offer here.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.30/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €9.50/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass-weight.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €5.30/kg for cull ewes again this week.

ICM is quoting €9.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs leaving €10.00/kg on offer here up to 21kg.

Kildare Chilling (Dawn Meats Kildare) is quoting €9.40/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €9.60/kg on offer here up to 23.5kg carcass-weight.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €9.90/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg, leaving €10.10/kg on offer here up to 21kg.

The outlet is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes from 35-43kg carcass-weight.

Lighter ewes will be priced on valuation at the outlet.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €9.20/kg for hoggets this week up to 23kg carcass-weight.

The outlet is quoting €5.40/kg for cull ewes this week.