Last Saturday’s sale at Baltinglass Mart saw an almost 100% clearance and another buoyant trade.

Mart manager Joe Kinsella said that both the quality and numbers available are higher so far this year.

He said that while prices slipped a little in recent weeks, Saturday’s sale saw a firm trade on the previous week.

Ewe lambs sold to a top price of €138 for 41kg, while Suffolk-cross hoggets sold mainly from around €150 to a top of €170.

While the number of ewe lambs on offer is up on last year, Joe said that it will be another week or so before the main supply of Suffolk-cross hogget ewes come to the fore, while it could be nearer to the end of the month before Cheviot ewe and ewe lambs are available in numbers.

In terms of the lamb trade, the trade was quite firm on Saturday. Store lambs from 32kg to 33kg sold mainly from €73 to €84/head, while heavy butchers’ ram lambs sold mainly from €112 to €114 at the top of the market.

There was a good entry of factory lambs available also, which sold mainly from €90 to €110 per head and farmers were happy with prices received.

Commission rates are €1.50 to the buyer and 2% to the seller.