This week's sheep trade sees ewe and lamb prices remain solid, with price offers tabled this morning (Monday, October 5) largely the same as last week's.

Weekly sheep kill numbers have been trending above last year for the past 10 weeks, according to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures.

The DAFM figures show the cumulative sheep kill-to-date this year as being up by over 20,000 head despite the lamb and hogget kill being down by over 60,000 head.

The factory cull ewe and ram kill has increased by over 75,000 head to date this year, according to DAFM figures.

Sheep trade

Kepak is quoting €7.85/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg carcass-weight this week.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €4.00/kg for cull ewes again this week.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €7.90/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.10/kg on offer here this week.

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

O'Flynn Meats in Co. Waterford is quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes and €8.30/kg for lambs up to 23kg carcass-weight this week.

Kildare Chilling (Dawn Meats Kildare) is quoting €7.90/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs this week, leaving €8.10/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg carcass-weight.

The outlet is quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes from 35-45kg carcass-weight again this week.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.20/kg for lambs up to 23kg carcase weight this week.

The outlet is quoting €4.80/kg for cull ewes again this week.

Dawn Meats in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, is quoting €7.90/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.10/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg this week.

The outlet is quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes over 35kg again this week.