Several mart managers are reporting a stronger trade for cull ewes.
Numbers have tightened sharply in many sales in recent weeks, while demand has strengthened on the back of hogget numbers dwindling.
This has lifted prices in some sales by €5 to €10 per head.
The general run of prices paid for large-framed lowland ewes ranges on average from €90 to €115, while some sales have reported select ewes rising to €130 per head.
Lighter fleshed crossbred ewes are selling from €75 to €95.
The trade is helped by firm appetite for feeding ewes, with lowland ewes capable of thriving quickly on grass selling from €65 to €85.
The lamb trade is steady, but, like ewes, there is variation between sales.
Factory lambs weighing 43kg to 46kg are reported as averaging from €105 to €112, with heavier top-quality lambs rising to €118 to €120.
A few sales with strong butcher and wholesale activity reported prices exceeding €120 per head for lambs weighing in excess of 50kg.
Store lambs
There is firm demand for small numbers of store lambs appearing, with nice-quality lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg selling in the low €90s and in cases exceeding €100.
Fleshed lambs weighing 40kg are selling from €100 to €107 on average, with flesh cover influencing prices paid.
Hogget numbers have dried up in mart sales, with the exception of a few lots of ewe hoggets. Prices range anywhere from €100 to €110 for average-quality lots, with some better-quality lots with good breeding potential rising to €120 to €135 per head.
Read more
Sheep Trends: focus switches to spring lambs
Several mart managers are reporting a stronger trade for cull ewes.
Numbers have tightened sharply in many sales in recent weeks, while demand has strengthened on the back of hogget numbers dwindling.
This has lifted prices in some sales by €5 to €10 per head.
The general run of prices paid for large-framed lowland ewes ranges on average from €90 to €115, while some sales have reported select ewes rising to €130 per head.
Lighter fleshed crossbred ewes are selling from €75 to €95.
The trade is helped by firm appetite for feeding ewes, with lowland ewes capable of thriving quickly on grass selling from €65 to €85.
The lamb trade is steady, but, like ewes, there is variation between sales.
Factory lambs weighing 43kg to 46kg are reported as averaging from €105 to €112, with heavier top-quality lambs rising to €118 to €120.
A few sales with strong butcher and wholesale activity reported prices exceeding €120 per head for lambs weighing in excess of 50kg.
Store lambs
There is firm demand for small numbers of store lambs appearing, with nice-quality lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg selling in the low €90s and in cases exceeding €100.
Fleshed lambs weighing 40kg are selling from €100 to €107 on average, with flesh cover influencing prices paid.
Hogget numbers have dried up in mart sales, with the exception of a few lots of ewe hoggets. Prices range anywhere from €100 to €110 for average-quality lots, with some better-quality lots with good breeding potential rising to €120 to €135 per head.
Read more
Sheep Trends: focus switches to spring lambs
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