A good entry of quality, fleshed lambs in Saturday’s sheep sale in Mountbellew mart, Galway, saw strong competition between factory agents. Prices paid were influenced by current factory prices with agents slower to operate once prices exceeded €110 per head. But with sellers unwilling to part with good quality lambs easily, many lots of well fleshed lambs weighing 50kg to 54kg sold to €112 per head with the highest quality lots attracting €1-€2 extra. A top price for fleshed lambs of €115 was paid for 51kg wether lambs.

Lambs weighing 50kg to 54kg and with a lower cover of flesh sold from €105 to €110. Lighter lambs weighing 47kg to 49kg sold from €103 to €106 per head. Factory agents were active for lighter fleshed lambs that could be slaughtered showing the strength of current demand with 44kg to 46kg lambs selling from €97 to €104 per head. Forward stores were also a firm trade ranging in price from €47 to €52 over.

There were fewer lambs under 40kg with good quality lowland stores selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg or from €43 to €48 over for lambs weighing 35kg to 40kg. Crossbred lambs sold from €76 to €80 with very few lambs selling below this. The best price of the day of €125 was paid for a quality pen of Suffolk ewe lambs weighing 51kg.

Lively cull trade

The cull ewe trade also improved. Tight supplies are failing to satisfy current demand with good quality slaughter-fit lowland ewes easily exceeding €90 with better quality lots to €110. Heavy fleshed ewes sparked keen competition with prices rising to €128 and €135 for top quality ewes. Lighter ewes lacking flesh sold from €70 to €80 with only a small number of very poor quality ewes below this level.