This week's sheep trade sees the lower lamb price offers tabled last week holding for this week, though higher prices have eased since last Monday.

Cull ewe price offers have also eased since last Monday in cases but held at other outlets.

A total of 47,000 sheep were slaughtered in week 34 of this year (week ending Sunday, August 23), up 5,000 head or 12% on the same week last year.

The cumulative sheep kill-to-date this year is on par with last year, according to figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

Sheep trade: Factory prices

This week, Kepak is quoting €7.65/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €7.80/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcass-weight. This price is the same as last Monday's offer.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €4.40/kg for cull ewes and €4.50/kg for cull ewes with carcass-weights over 30kg this week.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €7.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €7.90/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcass-weight.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes this week, the same price as last week but back 50c/kg on the previous week.

Dawn Meats in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, is quoting €7.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs leaving €7.90/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcase weight.

The Mayo-based outlet has no official price quote for cull ewes this week.

Kildare Chilling (Dawn Meats Kildare) is quoting €7.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs this week, leaving €7.90/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcass-weight.

The outlet is quoting €4.40/kg for cull ewes from 35-45kg carcass-weight, down 60c/kg on last Monday.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €7.80/kg for lambs this week.

The outlet is quoting €5.10/kg for cull ewes this week, back 10c/kg on the previous week.