This week's sheep trade has seen most outlets move to increase their lamb price offers by 10c/kg.

Prices of €8.00-€8.20/kg up to carcass-weights of 22.5kg have been tabled this week for lambs.

Weekly sheep kill numbers have been running well above this time last year.

The cumulative sheep kill-to-date this year is now on par with last year, despite 60,500 fewer hoggets slaughtered this year.

Just over 1.44 million sheep have been slaughtered in Ireland to date this year, according to official Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures.

Sheep trade

Kepak is quoting €7.75/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €7.90/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg carcass-weight this week.

This price offer is up 10c/kg since last week.

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

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here this week, up 10c/kg since last 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 €8.20/kg for lambs up to 22.5kg carcass-weight this week, up 20c/kg since last week.

Kildare Chilling (Dawn Meats Kildare) is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs this week, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg carcass-weight, up 10c/kg since last week.

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 €8.00/kg for lambs again this week and the upper carcass-weight limit remains at 22kg.

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

Dawn Meats in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for lambs, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here up to 22.5kg this week.

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