Both throughput and prices drop in sheep factories

Ireland’s sheep throughput has fallen this week in comparison to the same stage last year.

A fall of 12,917 was experienced in the sheep kill for the week commencing on the 27^th of April, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s (DAFM) database.

The fall experienced contrasts the trend of the previous week, where the beginning of Ramadan coincided with an increase in throughput.

Last week’s throughput:

• Lambs/hoggets: 25,365;
• Spring lambs: 12,626;
• Ewes and rams: 5,897;
• Light lambs: 2;
• Total: 43,890.

Cumulative (excludes this week’s throughput):

• Lambs/hoggets: 741,420;
• Spring lambs: 31,866;
• Ewes and rams: 104,969;
• Light lambs: 24;
• Total: 878,279.

Corresponding week last year:

• Lambs/hoggets: 35,632;
• Spring lambs: 13,997;
• Ewes and rams: 7,175;
• Light lambs: 3;
• Total: 56,807.

Last year’s throughput:

• Lambs/hoggets: 662,597;
• Spring lambs: 32,418;
• Ewes and rams: 125,496;
• Light lambs: 10;
• Total: 820,521.

Prices:

This week, factory quotes have fallen from the previous week, as spring lambs are earning €6.20-€6.30/kg, dropping from €6.40-€6.75/kg last week.

Hogget prices have also dropped this week, to €5.60-€5.70/kg, while cull ewes are selling for €2.70-€2.90/kg.