Last Tuesday night’s sheep sale at Tuam Mart saw an increased entry on offer, which was met with another strong trade.

Mart manager Marian Devane said that there were approximately 560 head on offer, which was up both on last week and the same week last year.

While numbers were up, she added that the supply of fleshed lambs is a little slower than expected and as a result the trade was quite strong once again.

Efforts by the factories last week to pull prices has not had a major affect on the live trade, with prices back by just €3 to €4/head, which is better than expected.

Factory agents continue to be active for all types of fleshed lambs. Butchers were active for heavy, fleshed types, while factory agents continue to be very active for all other fleshed lambs and even some light fleshed lambs.

Those from 45kg to 50kg sold mainly from €112 to €118, with lighter types from 40kg to 45kg making from €100 to €106/head.

There were some heavy types over 50kg and these sold from €110 to €120/head. Cull ewes sold from €100 to €120 for fleshed types, with feeding ewes making from €70 to €90, backed by strong grass buyer demand.

Commission rates are €1 to the buyer and 1.5% to the seller.