There has been no real change in the sheep trade this week. Most export plants remain on a base quote of €4.85/kg, leaving most producer groups securing prices of €5.05/kg to €5.15/kg.

Individual sellers are, in general, negotiating €5.05/kg to €5.10/kg, with frequent traders securing €5.15/kg at the top end of the market for quality assured lamb.

Agents supplying large numbers to factories are reported as securing €5.15/kg to €5.20/kg, with this statement given more credence going on purchasing activity in marts.

Northern lambs are also reported as costing the equivalent of €5.20/kg.

With Northern Ireland plants paying £3.85/kg to £3.90/kg or the equivalent of €5.12 to €5.20/kg including VAT, agents purchasing for southern plants have to compete at this level to secure sales.

Deals have already been completed for a high percentage of sheep that will be processed between Christmas and the new year.

A large volume of the required sheep will be sourced from specialised finishers and producer groups.

Factories are, by and large, keeping a lid on prices on offer, with agents offering 5c/kg extra to some sellers to entice them to move lambs over the Christmas period.

Plants continue to compete actively for ewes to underpin tighter supplies. Quotes range from €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg with most plants open to negotiation to €3.00/kg.

Again, agents or sellers with greater selling power are reported as securing €3.10/kg to €3.15/kg.

Weight limits range from 40kg to 45kg, with one plant in the west paying to heavier weights. Light ewes are selling in the main to €3.20/kg.

Marts finish strongly

Mart sales finished the year on a high note. Fleshed lambs weighing 50+kg sold from €110 to €118 per head, with small numbers of butcher lambs selling to and exceeding €120.

Lighter lots weighing 46kg to 50kg sold from €105 to €114, with short-keep stores selling from €45 to €58 over, or on average from €2.15/kg to €2.25/kg, depending on condition.

Cull ewes finished trading at €95 to €120 per head for heavy, fleshed ewes.

Slaughter-fit cross-bred ewes sold from €65 to €80 for lighter ewes and to €90 to €95 per head for larger-framed ewes.

There are very few ewes, with any level of flesh selling downwards of €60 per head.

Small numbers of in-lamb ewes have traded at €160 to €200 for young ewes carrying 1.5 to two lambs per ewe.

Aged lowland ewes carrying a single lamb or not lambing until the end of February or March traded from €130 to €150 per head.