Sheep Council Report February 2026

Market Report 

• Lamb Price: Spring Lambs are making €7.60kg to €7.90kg on weights to 23kg. Cull Ewe prices are ranging from €4.40 to €5.00kg in general.
  
  Supplies: Total throughput to date in 2026 is 190,284 head which represents a 6% decrease when compared to the same period in 2025.  Spring lamb throughput is running 15,419 head or 89% ahead the same period last year. Hogget throughput is running 8,535 head or 6% behind the same period in 2025. Ewe and Ram throughput is running 559 head or -4% ahead from the same period in 2025.

• Market Conditions: Hogget prices have steadied this week following a fortnight of downward pressure. UK old season lamb prices have fallen 10p/kg in the past week and 35p/kg over the past fortnight. The Irish and EU sheep sector is projecting a continued tightening supply of sheep meat throughout 2026 continuing a trend that saw significant drops in 2024 and 2025. EU sheep production fell 5.8% in 2025. Irish lamb supplies are projected to remain tight over the coming weeks with steady to firmer prices likely in the lead up to the Ramadan and Este festivals. 
• Live Export: Total live sheep exports 2025: 12,602.  

Budget 2026

• IFA secured €22m in National Exchequer funding for sheep farmers in Budget 2026 for the continuation of the national sheep scheme in 2026.
• IFA have met with DAFM on the new scheme and on-going engagement will continue to ensure the new scheme is practical to implement, reflects the number of ewes on farms and avoids unnecessary leakage of funds or administration bureaucracy for farmers.
• IFA will maintain pressure on the Minister to ensure that the linear cuts imposed in 2025 are not applied to the 2026 scheme and that full restoration of payments is delivered.

Sheep Improvement Scheme

• There are currently 17,147 farmers participating in the scheme accounting for almost 1.8m ewes.
• IFA successfully secured an amendment to the Genotyped ram action, allowing farmers to choose an alternative year if unable to secure a 4/5-star ram in the year nominated. 
• IFA is seeking changes to the retention period in the scheme.
• Balance payments will issue to farmers in May 2026.

National Sheep Welfare scheme 2025

• IFA secured €22m for a new sheep scheme for 2025.
• 17,028 farmers applied to the scheme accounting for almost 1.9m ewes.
• IFA engaged directly with the Minister and DAFM officials to demand a reversal of the linear cuts applied, strongly outlining the impact it will impose on sheep farms. 

Early-stage support for producer organisations

• Applications for the second tranche of the Early-Stage support for producer organisations will open Q1 2026.
• Up to €10,000 is available annually for three 3 years with an additional €3,000 available for startup costs.

Dog Control

• IFA will relaunch the ‘No Dogs allowed’ in Spring 2026. 
• IFA continues to engage in the dog stakeholder group to advance dog control issues. The latest meeting convened in December.
• Proposals with the aim to strengthen dog legislation are to be brought forward to the Minister in Q1 2026.
• IFA met with DAFM in January to discuss ongoing issues including the proposed dog control campaign for 2026.
• The DAFM has now taken full responsibility for Policy and legislation for the control of dogs. 
• IFA met with UFU and issued a joint statement between both organisations to deal with dog control in the border regions. 
• IFA and the UFU are calling for co-ordination and co-operation between authorities with a database that fully integrates licensing and microchipping information and clearly identifies the person responsible for each dog.
• IFA has called for owners of dogs found worrying livestock to be prohibited from dog ownership in the future.
• IFA set out its key priorities to the committee which include;
• A single National Database for all dogs corelating licensing and microchipping and identifying the person responsible for the dog but at a minimum alignment of the existing licensing and microchipping records to one central access point.
• Full enforcement of microchipping and licensing obligations of dog owners for all dogs.
• Stronger powers of enforcement for dog wardens and Gardaí and clarity of these powers.
• Increased on the spot fines for failing to comply with the microchipping and licensing requirements.
• Increased sanctions and on the spot fines for failing to have the dog under control.
• Significant on the spot fines for dogs found worrying livestock.
• Legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped and licensed and identified on the NVPS (National Veterinary Prescribing System) prior to any veterinary treatment or prescribing of medicines by veterinary practitioners.
• Authority to apply the legislative obligations to dogs in border regions owned by persons not resident in the state.

  Wool

• IFA continues to actively engage with the National Wool Council and attended the latest Wool Council meeting in October.
• IFA continues to meet with the Wool Council sub-committee on a monthly basis.
• Recent wool auctions are returning strong prices with positive demand from the Chinese market for wool.

Brucella Ovis test requirement for exported intact male lambs

• IFA has written directly to the Minister for Agriculture calling for a resolution to the Brucella Ovis testing requirements for intact male lambs not going directly to the point of slaughter on export certs.

EU/COPA Developments

• IFA attended the COPA working party on sheep meat in October. 
• IFA continues to work closely with COPA on sheep developments including CAP, animal transport, animal diseases, trade deals.
• New EU legislation is being developed on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.
• New proposed legislation will focus on licensing, microchipping and animal welfare among other issues relating to the welfare of dogs and cats.
• The AGRI committee’s position now goes to the full European Parliament plenary. Once approved, final negotiations will begin with the Council.