Mart managers report that the trade for factory-fit lambs eased slightly this week, with prices back €2 to €3/head. However, some managers commented that the number of factory-fit lambs coming out to sales has been lower in recent weeks and this dip in supply may spark an improvement in the trade.

Lambs weighing 48kg to 50kg were making €96 to €102, or €48 to €52 over. The store lamb trade remains reasonably steady, with lowland-bred stores making €2/kg to €2.20/kg. Lambs weighing 38kg to 44kg were making €76 to €90, or €38 to €46 over.

Lighter lowland-bred lambs weighing 30kg to 35kg were making €62 to €73, or €32 to €38 over. Scottish Blackface store lambs in the south weighing over 30kg were selling for €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with lighter, plainer lots selling back to €1.70/kg (see full Kenmare mart report on page 49).

Select lots of lowland and hill-bred ewe lambs continue to make a price premium ahead of their male counterparts. Some ewe lambs are making a €10 to €15/head price premium and even higher where farmer competition was strong.

In the breeding sales, managers say hogget prices are very varied, with the number and quality of lots entering sales now diminishing quickly. Good-quality lots are selling anywhere from €150 to €180/head, with average- and poor-quality lots selling back to €115/head.

The cull ewe trade is steady now and similar to last week. Top prices paid for large-framed, well-fleshed ewes was €105 to €120. Large-framed feeding ewes are selling anywhere from €85 to €100, depending on flesh cover and the time it will take to finish these ewes. Smaller-framed lowland ewes lacking flesh are selling back to €65 to €80/head.