€1,469/ha gross margin gap between top and bottom mid-season lowland lamb producers

The gross margin differential between top and bottom performing mid-season lowland lamb producers widened in 2025, data from the Teagasc National Farm Survey has revealed.

Published as part of the Teagasc National Farm Survey 2025 Mid-Season Lowland Lamb Enterprise Factsheet and representative of approximately 7,400 farms, the factsheet summarises results for farms with a mid-season lamb enterprise and only sheep farms with more than 20 ewes are included in the analysis.

According to the data presented, the top third of mid-season lowland lamb producers generated a gross margin of €1,722/ha in 2025, compared with €823/ha for the middle third and €253/ha for the bottom third. Notably, margins on the bottom third of farms declined from €406/ha in 2024, whereas margins on the top third of farms increased by 7% in 2025.

According to the National Farm Survey factsheet, gross output was highest among the top-performing producers, at €2,485/ha, compared with €1,382/ha for the middle third and €797/ha for the bottom third.

In terms of physical performance, stocking rates also varied across the three groups, with the top third carrying 8.62 ewes/ha, compared with 6.09 ewes/ha for the middle third and 5.17 ewes/ha for the bottom third. Additionally, the top-performing farms had a higher weaning rate, standing at 1.49 lambs/ewe, while the middle third weaned 1.36 lambs/ewe and the bottom third recorded a weaning rate of 0.99 lambs/ewe. According to economists at Teagasc, due to the higher stocking and weaning rates, output value per hectare on the top farms was more than three times that on the bottom third of farms.

In terms of costs, the top third had total direct costs of €763/ha, compared with €558/ha for the middle third and €543/ha for the bottom third. Concentrate feed expenditure was highest on the top farms, while pasture and forage costs were lowest on the bottom group.

The superior efficiency and productivity performance of the top group in comparison to the other two groups results in a gross margin per hectare of €1,722 (almost seven times higher on the top farms compared to the bottom group).

Table 1: Variation in output and profit: Top, Middle, Bottom thirds Mid-Season Lamb producers 2025

For more information, view the Teagasc National Farm Survey enterprise factsheets here.