Thursday night saw Drumshanbo Mart in Co Leitrim host its weekly sheep sale, where 30 lots went through the ring.
The sale was held 100% online through the Irish Farmers Journal Martbids.ie platform.
Finished hoggets are in short supply and there was a small entry on Thursday night, with the majority of lots made up of ewes and lambs.
One standout lot of quality spring lambs weighing 27kg sold for €106 (€3.93/kg).
Quality lots are still commanding a premium, with lots of customers on the hunt for slaughter-fit lambs.
@farmersjournal in Drumshanbo mart. The super trade continues here in Drumshanbo with this batch of 3 ewes and 6 lambs selling for €157. pic.twitter.com/ccYKZhKA7N
— FJ Sheep (@FJSheep) April 15, 2021
With ewes and lambs reaching a top price of €345 for a Suffolk ewe with two Texel ewe lambs at foot, it was fair to say quality pays.
“With sheep prices hiked this year, it is even easier to see the difference between a quality outfit compared to a poor quality one, and that’s the way it should be,” commented mart manager Eoin Kane.
Culls ewes were averaging €1.50/kg and upwards, with some heavy ewes selling from €120 to €160.