Over 503,388 sheep have been slaughtered to date in 2024, according to the latest sheep kill figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
Last week, during week 10 (ending Sunday, March 10), the number of sheep processed was 61,248/head, which was made up of 56,210 lambs/hoggets, 5,031 ewes and rams, and seven light lambs.
This is the highest weekly throughput to date in 2024, as the supply of lambs/hoggets rose by 11,843/head in a week.
The table below gives an overview of the sheep kill for week 10 and the cumulative kill to date this year, compared to the same time period in 2024.
Type 2024
week 102024 cumulative 2023 weekly 2023 cumulative Weekly
differenceCumulative difference 24 vs. 23 % weekly difference 24 vs. 23 % cumulative difference Lambs/hogget 56,210 444,089 46,047 458,347 10,163 -14,258 22% -3% Spring lambs 0 8,571 207 207 -207 8,364 –100% 4,041% Ewes and rams 5,031 50,699 4,336 59,285 695 -8,586 16% -14% Light lambs 7 29 6 36 1 -7 17% -19% Total 61,248 503,388 50,596 517,875 10,652 -14,487 21% -3%
The supply of sheep to date in 2024 is currently running 3% behind the cumulative total of the same period last year, which is 14,487 fewer sheep.
Taking a look at this year’s throughput figures to date, 503,388 sheep have been processed so far.
Of that figure, 444,089 have been lambs/hoggets, 8,571 were spring lambs, with the rest made up of ewes and rams (50,699), and a small portion of light lambs (29).
Kilkenny mart manager George Candler told Agriland that factors including the scarcity of numbers of lambs, shipping issues in the Suez Canal, and Ramadan, have created “a perfect storm to create a healthy trade”.
However, Candler advised caution, as he explained: “At this price, farmers should realise that these prices are unsustainable, but at the moment there are orders to fill, sheep are in short supply, and Ramadan is also taking place.”