This week's sheep trade has seen prices remain mostly firm for the start of the week, with one outlet cutting price and another saying it will be reviewing prices on Wednesday (July 2).

One of the smaller outlets has lifted its spring lamb price offer for this week by 10c/kg.

With July approaching, mid-season lambing flocks will have more lambs reaching slaughter weight, but sheep kills to date this year are down 16% on last year, with the spring lamb kill down 9% or almost 17,000 lambs below last year.

This week, Kepak is quoting €8.45/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.60/kg on offer here up to 21kg carcass weight. This offer is at the same level as last week.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon-based processor has no official quote for hoggets this week.

Kepak is quoting €4.70 and €4.80/kg for cull ewes, which is the same price as last Monday.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs, leaving €8.70/kg on offer here up to 21kg carcass weight. This price is at the same level as last week.

ICM has said it will be reviewing lamb prices on Wednesday, A spokesperson from the outlet told Agriland that "the market has been under big pressure this past few days".

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €7.00/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €7.20/kg on offer here to 23kg carcass weight. This offer is at the same level as last week also.

ICM is quoting €4.50/kg for cull ewes, which is the same price as last week.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €8.60/kg for spring lambs up 10c/kg on last week and €5.10/kg for cull ewes.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €8.50/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for QA spring lambs, leaving €8.60/kg on offer here, down 10c/kg from last week.

The processor is quoting €7.10/kg for QA hoggets, and €5.00/kg for QA cull ewes. Cull rams are being quoted at €3.50/kg to 43kg carcass weight.

Kilkenny Mart hosted its sheep sale today (Monday, June 30), with spring lambs peaking at €211/head for 53kg and cull ewes making up to €300/head.

Commenting on the sale, auctioneer George Chandler said numbers on offer in the sale this week were "small once again with trade similar to last week".

The auctioneer described the trade as "steady with no great excitement".

A pen of 50kg lambs made €186/head and another pen of 55kg lambs made €210/head.

Looking at factory lamb prices in the sale today, a pen of 44kg lambs made €164/head and another batch of 46kg lambs made €182/head.