This week's sheep trade has seen several factories move to reduce their lamb price offers by 10c/kg, leaving offers coming in below €9.00/kg for new-season lamb for the first time this year.

Some outlets also said they would be reviewing their prices for Wednesday, July 29.

Cull ewes are remaining firm in general, with up to €5.30/kg tabled at some of the smaller outlets for cull ewes, with a particular interest from factories and wholesalers for the heavy cull ewes.

The new-season lamb kill is down 8% to date this year, with just under 313,000 spring lambs slaughtered in 2026.

The cull ewe and ram kill is up 49% with over 140,000 ewes and rams slaughtered this year versus 94,200 in the same time last year.

Sheep trade: Factory prices

This week, Kepak is quoting €8.70/kg for Quality Assured (QA) spring lambs up to 22kg carcass-weight.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €8.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.90/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcass-weight.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €5.00/kg for cull ewes again this week.

ICM is quoting €7.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €7.90/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass-weight.

Kildare Chilling (Dawn Meats Kildare) is quoting €8.70/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.90/kg on offer here up to 22kg carcass-weight.

The outlet is quoting €5.20/kg for cull ewes this week.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.80/kg for spring lambs this week.

The outlet is quoting €5.30/kg for cull ewes again this week.