Today’s sale in Kilkenny Mart witnessed greater demand and higher prices for heavier lambs. Auctioneer George Candler reported a much livelier trade for heavier lambs weighing in excess of 46kg with prices rising anywhere from €3 to €7 per head.

Sample prices reported by George include €127 paid for a pen of 20 51kg lambs, €132 paid for 11 lambs weighing 53kg and a top of €135 paid for four very heavy 63kg lambs.

Lambs with a good cover of flesh attracted the best demand with a pen of 10 lambs weighing 48kg selling for €117.

Factory lambs

Factory lambs were a firm trade with lamb quality again having an effect on price.

This is shown in a pen of good-quality 45kg lambs selling for €110, while a pen of 46kg lambs sold for €108. Lambs weighing 43kg sold for €103 with 41kg reported at €99 per head.

Store lambs

The number of store lambs coming on stream is gradually rising but is being met with growing farmer activity.

Good-quality lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg sold in general from €80 to €82 with lighter 33kg lambs selling back to €73.

Cull ewes

The trade for cull ewes remains firm. Large-framed ewes sold from €100 to €120 in general with a top price of €130 paid for excellent quality ewes.

Feeding ewes sold back to €80 with very poor quality ewes selling from €50 upwards.

Solid factory trade

There is no change in the factory trade with quotes ranging from a base of €5.20/kg at the bottom of the market with most plants quoting a base of €5.30/kg to €5.35/kg.

This is leaving returns ranging from €5.35/kg to €5.50/kg with agents working hard to source numbers.

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