Live price data, seasonal trends, and market analysis for spring lamb, cull ewes, and store lambs — helping you make informed decisions.
Real-time Irish sheep prices updated weekly using IFA, Bord Bia, and leading export mart data.
Factory quotes: €7.95-€8.15/kg. Strong Easter demand.
Mart average: €155-€165. Good quality ewes holding.
40-45kg stores: €95-€105. Grass pressure easing.
Clean wool. Still below production cost for most.
Weekly price movements for key sheep categories showing seasonal patterns and market volatility.
Understanding the volatility and pressures in the Irish sheep sector.
Prices peak around Easter (+15-20%) then drop 25-30% by summer. Ramadan and Christmas create secondary spikes.
85% of Irish lamb exported. French retail promotions and UK competition dictate prices. Brexit added 8-12% costs.
Concentrate feed €340/tonne, vet costs €8-€12/ewe, contractor charges up 22% since 2020.
Lambing requires 24/7 attention. 200-250 hours labour/year for 100 ewes. Hard to scale without disproportionate labour increase.
How adding hemp to a sheep enterprise can stabilize income and reduce volatility.
150 lambs @ €128/head average
20 ewes @ €160/head
400kg @ €0.65/kg
Feed, vet, bedding, contractor, etc.
20% smaller flock, same efficiency
10 acres @ €1,200/acre contract price
Hemp aftermath grazing reduces concentrates
Lower sheep numbers, hemp costs minimal
The sheep+hemp model generates similar income with 20% less labour, 30% lower volatility, and guaranteed contract price for hemp. When lamb prices drop €0.50/kg (€1,500 loss on 100 ewes), hemp income remains stable, protecting overall farm viability.
Sheep graze hemp stubble after harvest. High-quality aftermath reduces autumn concentrate needs by 30-40%.
Hemp's dense canopy suppresses weeds. Sheep grazing breaks pest cycles naturally. Reduced chemical use.
Hemp harvest (Sept) occurs after lambing/silage, before breeding. Spreads workload, not peak demands.
Hemp contract price guaranteed. When lamb prices volatile, hemp provides reliable cashflow for inputs/overheads.
120 ewes, 80 acres (60 grazing, 20 rough). Income volatility 35% year-to-year. Dependent on spring lamb price.
Converted 8 acres of marginal land to hemp. Reduced ewe numbers to 100. Used hemp aftermath for autumn grazing.
"The hemp money arrived in October, just when we needed to buy feed and pay bills. For the first time, we didn't have to borrow against next year's lamb cheque. The sheep work better with the break crop too — healthier lambs, less worm pressure." — Siobhán O'Connor
Your farm shouldn't be at the mercy of export markets and seasonal spikes. Hemp integration offers price stability, workload balancing, and improved sheep health through better rotations.
Book a free sheep-hemp integration assessment and market analysis for your farm.
