The hogget trade continues to strengthen in the marts. Fleshed hoggets weighing 51kg to 53kg are making €127 to €128/head, or €76 to €75 over. In some sales where butcher activity is very strong, fleshed hoggets are making up to €135 to €140/head.

Short-keep hoggets continue to be a good trade, with hoggets weighing 45kg to 50kg making €110 to €125/head. Lighter hoggets weighing 40kg to 44kg are selling for €96 to €110/head. Hoggets weighing 32kg to 37kg are making €85 to €95/head.

In-lamb ewe prices are very variable. One sale in the west saw second-, third- and fourth-crop ewes scanned in lamb to a mixture of singles, couples and triplets making from €170 to €185/head. In-lamb hoggets were making up to €200/head at the same sale. In contrast, one mart manager in the east said in-lamb ewes were good value for buyers, making anywhere from €120 to €160/head and average ewes scanned carrying 1.5 lambs made €135 to €150/head at this sale. On the other hand, there was plenty of demand for ewes with lambs at foot in the east. Older and broken-mouth ewes with two lambs at foot were making €160 to €170/head, while two-year-old ewes with two lambs at foot made from €230 to €240/head. Young ewes with single lambs at foot sold from €130 to €170/head. He thinks with the poor weather and pressure on housing farmers are reluctant to buy in-lamb ewes that will require housing at lambing and they seem to prefer ewes and lambs at foot because they can go straight to grass.

More life is also coming to the cull ewe trade. Fleshed heavy carcase ewes continue to command the strongest prices and demand. These heavy ewes are making up to €140/head. Lighter carcase slaughter fit ewes are making from €110 to €120/head.