Lamb prices are steady in the main, with marts in the west reporting a slight easing, especially for heavier lambs. Some mart managers said prices eased by €1 to €2/head.

This was more visible in sales that were more reliant on factory agent activity that normally have fewer butcher or wholesale buyers present.

Factory lambs weighing 45kg to 48kg are selling for €97 to €104/head. Lambs in the 50kg+ weight bracket are moving at €102 to €110/head, but the higher prices are more difficult to come by.

Greater numbers of lambs are coming out to sales now fit for slaughter which is helping to improve supplies available to factory agents. With catch crops sown under GLAS now permitted to be grazed there has been increased demand for store lambs. Store lambs weighing 30kg to 35kg are selling from €65 to €82/head. In the east lambs weighing 35kg to 40kg are selling for €80 to €85. In some sales in western marts prices for stores in the weight bracket were €2 to €3/head behind eastern marts.

Ewes scanned inlamb will be starting to appear in sales from now on. Some early lots sold range from €145 for three year old sheep scanned with 1.5 lambs and €175 for two year old ewes scanned carrying two lambs.

Cull ewe prices remain firm. Top prices for heavy fleshed ewes range from €95 to €112/head. Feeding ewes are selling for €62 to €85/head. Smaller-framed ewes lacking flesh and mountain bred types are selling for €25/head to €55/head.