The average carcase weight of lambs and hoggets handled by sheep factories in 2019 reached a 10-year high of 21.2kg. This represented a significant increase of 0.7kg on 2018 levels and an increase of 1kg on the 10-year average, as reflected in Figure 1.

The increase was driven by hoggets being slaughtered at much heavier weights. The average weight of hoggets/lambs handled by factories in the first 21 weeks of 2019 was recorded at 21.99kg, an increase of 1.4kg or 7% on the corresponding period in 2018. The average weight of hoggets/lambs slaughtered from week 22 to week 52 recorded a marginal increase of 0.22kg or 1% on 2018 levels to reach 20.66kg.

The increase in carcase weights greatly helped to lessen the full impact of throughput falling 205,873 head or 7% to 2,781,661. Total sheepmeat production for the year fell by just 2,085t or 3% to 67,415t.

Tighter availability had a knock-on effect on exports, with volumes reducing 3% on 2018 levels to 54,809t. There were two main time periods when export volumes dipped sharply – the first few months of 2019 and during beef factory gate protests.

The factory gate protests coincided with the festival of Eid al-Adha and resulted in the sheep sector failing to capitalise on what has become the most important date in the calendar in terms of moving peak volumes of sheepmeat. Declan presented analysis that showed there were in the region of 407,000 sheep processed in the time frame of the holiday. This was a major reduction of about 20% with 504,000 head processed in the corresponding period in 2018.

There was also significant variation recorded in the destination of sheepmeat exports. France remains the most important market in terms of volume, but exports there continue to decrease, with 2019 volumes for January to October recorded at 17,912t, a drop of 7% on the previous 12 months.

The UK is the second most important market for sheepmeat exports. Export volumes increased 4% to 15,681t and Declan explained that lower volumes of New Zealand sheepmeat in the market increased UK demand in early 2019. The trade for ewe meat to the UK also remains positive.

Exports to high-value continental markets have performed positively in recent years. Germany and Belgium however, imported reduced volumes in 2019, with volumes exported to Germany reducing 4% to 5,287t, while volumes exported to Belgium reduced 6.4% to 3,421t. Reports suggest normal trading avenues were affected by the availability of higher volumes of UK sheepmeat pushed onto the EU market at lower prices, in advance of key Brexit dates.

In contrast, exports to Sweden continue to grow, with volumes increasing 6% to 5,218t. Denmark recorded the greatest EU market increase in percentage terms, rising 13% to 1,562t, while Italy also performed favourably, with export volumes recorded at 2,290t and increasing by 7%.

International markets recorded a recovery in volumes, with exports to Switzerland increasing 1% to 1,467t, while Hong Kong imported 1,400t (+16%). The Canadian market has grown significantly in the last three years, with another increase of 30%, bringing exports to 1,177t.