Total sheep throughput in DAFM approved facilities last week totalled just under 32,000 head, taking throughput for the year to date to 714,540 head. This is a reduction of seven per cent or 52,000 from the corresponding period in 2025. A significant reduction in the number of lambs/hoggets being imported from Northern Ireland for direct slaughter have contributed to this trend, with imports back by 37,319 head/37 per cent during the early months of 2025. The challenging production conditions this spring have also had an impact with spring lambs slower to appear in any significant numbers, with throughput back 3,000 head/20% on 2025 levels.
The reported deadweight price last week was 920c/kg, a reduction of 7c/kg from the previous week. While Irish reported prices have come under some downward pressure in recent weeks the trade remains ahead of the corresponding period in 2025 when the reported price was in the region of 870c/kg. The downward pressure on the trade is in line with normal seasonal trends, with reports indicating the high price points is impacting demand for lamb in our key export markets. The reported new season lamb prices have increased in the UK, with a reported price of 977c/kg in Northern Ireland last week and 1065c/kg in Great Britain. Deadweight prices in key lamb producing regions of mainland Europe stayed largely steady last week.
There has been an improvement in the deadweight lamb trade in the Southern Hemisphere in recent weeks. In Australia prices increased by 13c/kg to 685c/kg with tighter supplies and a firm export demand contributing to the uplift in reported prices. Meanwhile in New Zealand the trade is also improving, up by a similar margin last week to 539c/kg.
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