Monday night’s sale at Kingscourt Mart saw a good entry of over 350 sheep and lambs on offer.

Auctioneer Nigel Gilmer said that numbers are good for the time of year, with the improved trade and weather bringing more sheep to the fore.

This pen of four lambs, weighing 43kg sold for €113.50 each (€2.64/kg).

Sellers were very satisfied again on Monday night, with another slight lift for fleshed lambs.

Nigel said that factory agents were very active for all types of fleshed lambs and this resulted in prices being up by about €2/head to €3/head.

This pen of 10 lambs, weighing 44.5kg on average sold for€111.50 each (€2.51/kg).

Factory lambs from 45kg to 49kg sold mainly from €110 to €115/head. Nigel said that store lambs were a very strong trade also.

There were plenty of farmer buyers present for all types.

This pen of five ewe lambs, weighing 36kg on average, sold for €78.50 (€2.18/kg).

Farmers who bought store lambs early in the autumn and have slaughtered them are now replenishing stocks. Lambs around 35kg were selling for €90/head to €93/head. Lighter stores sold from €80/head upwards.

This pen of 18 lambs, weighing number 35kg on average sold for €91 each (€2.60/kg).

Nigel said that the trade for cull ewes was very strong. He added that factory agents were snapping up heavy ewes, while farmers were buying stores.

This cull ewe, weighing 112kg, sold for €137 (€1.22/kg).

Top-quality heavy ewes sold to €139 for a 118kg ewe. Another top-quality ewe weighing 112kg sold for €137. Store ewes around 70kg to 76kg sold mainly from €90 to €95/head.

Commission rates are €1 to the buyer and €2 to the seller.