The latest sheep kill figures reported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), shows a decline in numbers for the week ending 12 March. The figure for each of the last four weeks is over the 50,000 head mark, however it is the fourth week in a row that throughput figures have dipped. DAFM confirms that last week’s figure stood at 51,730 sheep that were processed, indicating a decrease of 801 head from the previous week.
Last week saw the number of lambs/hoggets slaughtered at 47,286 head, which represented a decrease of 750 head from the week prior. Ewe and ram throughput fell from the previous week again but marginally, with 59 head less slaughtered last week, totalling 4,436 head.
According to DAFM statistics the figures for the week ending in 12 March appear as the following:
- Hoggets/lambs: 47,286 head (-750 or -1.56%)
- Ewes and rams: 4,495 head (-59 or -1.31%)
- Total: 51,730 head (-801 or -1.52%)
Figures for sheep processed for 2022 are 517,992 to date. Of that figure, 462,448 have been hoggets/lambs, with the rest made up of ewes and rams (55,513) and a small portion of light lambs (24 head). Compared to the same period last year the total number of sheep slaughtered has increased by over 54,600 head with 54,787 more hoggets/lambs and 49 less ewes and rams having been slaughtered.
LSL News.