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The mart trade for spring lambs is holding its own. Factory agents continue to battle hard for fleshed lots.
Numbers are steady in the main, with no sign of a surge of spring lambs hitting sales as of yet.
Fleshed lambs ready for slaughter are very much in demand and prices remain strong.
Lambs weighing 43kg to 46kg are selling for €117 to €127/head, or €74 to €81 over the weight.
Some heavier lambs weighing over 47kg are attracting butcher activity and prices ranging from €128 to €135/head have been paid.
Some lighter but fleshed lambs weighing over 40kg are also attracting factory agent interest, with prices starting from €110/head for these lots.
Store lambs weighing 32kg to 35kg are selling from €80 to €90/head.
Heavier store lambs weighing 35kg to 39kg are making up to €100/head.
In the east of the country, hoggets continue to make an appearance with fleshed wether lots selling from €115 to €122/head.
Good-quality ewe hoggets are also meeting good farmer demand, selling from €120 to €140/head.
One mart manager commented that many farmers are buying back ewe hoggets after selling spring lambs, mainly because they have good grass supplies and they also want to ensure ewe numbers are maintained to meet the requirements of the Sheep Welfare Scheme.
Fleshed cull ewes are selling for €100 to €123/head, while store ewes in need of feeding are moving at €65 to €95/head.
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