Tuesday’s sheep sale at Carnaross Mart saw a good entry of lambs on offer, the majority of which were stores.

Mart manager Padraig McElroy said that there was renewed store demand in recent weeks. The majority of the demand was farmer-led and as a direct result of worsening ground conditions and good grass supplies.

This pen of store lambs weighing 37.5kg on average, sold for €80 each (€2.13/kg).

Padraig said that farmers were very active for all good-quality stores and in particular store ewe lambs. Prices as a result were up by €10 to €15/head on recent weeks.

The majority of stores on offer were from 30kg to 33kg in weight and these sold mainly from €72/head to €75/head.

This pen of light store ewe lambs weighing 31kg on average, sold for €87 each (€2.81/kg).

Padraig said that at the bottom of the market, prices dipped to €69/head for a pen of 31kg lambs, but they were the exception.

In the same weight range, prices of a pen of top-quality ewe lambs hit €89/head or €2.70/kg for 33kg.

This pen of fat lambs, weighing 44kg on average, sold for €92 each (€2.09/kg).

There were only about five or six pens of factory lambs on offer and these were a steady trade on recent weeks.

This pen of store lambs, weighing 36kg on average, sold for €79 each (€2.19/kg).

Padraig said that Monday’s cattle sale saw an improved trade for short-keep and forward-store cattle, with increased demand from Northern buyers.

Commission rates for sheep are €2/head to the seller and €1/head to the buyer.

This pen of lambs weighing 38kg on average, sold for €83 each (€2.18/kg).