The mart trade has seen signs of a steadying after a few weeks of very hard price pulls. Mart managers have said that while the mood is poor at the marts on account of the ruthless price pulls, the steadying of the trade is welcome.

Hogget numbers are low overall, but they are a difficult trade, with weak demand at marts for them. Those over 50kg are selling from €100 to €110/head, with ewe hoggets making up to €120/head in some sales. Lighter hoggets over 47kg are selling from €97 to €102. Lighter hoggets under 45kg are a more variable trade, with cover the main driver of prices.

Demand for lambs is much stronger than that for hoggets, with lambs from 45kg to 48kg selling mainly from €107/head to €115/head, which is back by about €2 to €3/head on last week.

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Slightly heavier types around the 50kg mark are selling for just a few euros more for lighter types, with butchers the main source of demand.

Lighter lambs from 42kg to 45kg have seen a slight easing of prices once again, with many mart managers saying that they are back by about €2/head and are selling mainly from €103 to €110/head.

Lighter spring lambs are selling mainly from €95 to €100/head.

Ewes with lambs at foot are a steady trade and are selling mainly from €140 to €170 for those with singles, while those with twins at foot are selling mainly from €180 to €220 and higher in some areas.

Cull ewes are a reasonably steady trade and are selling from €105 to €125 for the main supply of ewes carrying flesh, with feeding ewes making from €70 to €90/head.