Hogget and spring lamb supplies have tightened significantly with the Easter break and favourable weather also disrupting throughput.

Many managers report farmers showing higher numbers in advance of the Easter trade with a fall-off in throughput thereafter.

Prices have held steady with reduced supplies putting a floor under supply.

Spring lambs are selling from €70 to €80 over for fleshed lambs weighing 40kg to 46kg. Heavier lots are attracting butcher and wholesale demand, with prices rising to €85 over for the highest quality lots.

Some mart managers report a slightly easier hogget trade but also comment that this could also be due to lesser quality lots on offer.

Good quality hoggets weighing 50kg to 55kg are selling in general from €70 to €78 over, with the highest quality lots rising to in excess of €80 over.

Lighter lots are selling from €65 to €70 over with those a long way off finishing selling back to €45 to €50 over.

The cull ewe trade remains firm. Fleshed heavy carcase ewes are selling from €85 to €110, with light carcase ewes selling from €70 to €85 per head. Ewes lacking significant flesh are selling from €40 to €55.

The trade for ewes with lambs at foot is strong, with prices variable depending on quality on offer.

The best quality twin lamb lots are selling from €170 to over €200 for young ewes with aged lambs.

Broken mouth lots are selling back to €130 per head. Single lamb lots are selling from €110 for aged or crossbred ewes to €165 for young ewes or aged lamb lots.