There was little change in the supplies of sheep since last week, according to the latest sheep kill figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
56,210 lambs/hoggets were slaughtered last week during week 11 (ending Sunday, March 17 ), which is identical to the number slaughtered during week 10.
Meanwhile, 4,359 ewes and rams were slaughtered last week, which is up 131 head on the previous week.
The table below gives an overview of the sheep kill for week 11 and the cumulative kill to date this year, compared to the same time period in 2024.
Type 2024
week 112024 cumulative 2023 weekly 2023 cumulative Weekly
differenceCumulative difference 24 vs. 23 % weekly difference 24 vs. 23 % cumulative difference Lambs/hogget 56,210 500,299 49,717 508,064 6,493 -7,765 13% -2% Spring lambs 0 8,571 16 223 -16 8,348 –100% 3,743% Ewes and rams 5,164 55,863 3,450 62,735 1,714 -6,872 50% -11% Light lambs 0 29 2 38 -2 -9 -100% -24% Total 61,374 564,762 53,185 571,060 8,189 -6,298 15% -1%
Taking a look at this year’s throughput figures to date, 564,762 sheep have been processed so far.
Of that figure, 500,299 have been lambs/hoggets, 8,571 were spring lambs, with the rest made up of ewes and rams (55,863), and a small portion of light lambs (29).
In the above graph, it can be seen that the number of sheep slaughtered last week is similar to the total of the previous week.
However, as seen a year ago, slaughterings may increase in the coming weeks, with demand being strong now during Ramadan and also Easter in the coming weeks.
With quotes for this year’s supply of lambs opening at over €9/kg, it remains to be seen how many numbers of spring lambs will processed in the near future, but farmers will no doubt want to avail of these prices.
The shorter processing weeks on account of St. Patrick’s Day and the upcoming Easter bank holiday means processers are eager to fill demand during the four-day week.