Cahir Mart’s weekly sheep sale on Tuesday saw good demand from buyers across store lambs and finished types, with cull ewes remaining a solid trade, particularly for well-fleshed types.

Despite a lack of rainfall pushing down grass growth, farmer buyers were still keen to source even batches of store lambs, while factory agents were prepared to pay for high kill-out-potential lambs.

Store lambs weighing 30kg to 40kg averaged €3.66/kg, with quality lots broaching €4/kg, especially for ewe lambs with possible breeding potential.

The same was evident in the 40kg to 50kg weight band, where a top price per kg of €5.19/kg was paid for a pen of lambs weighing 43kg (€223/head). Average price per kg was a solid €3.76/kg.

Heavy lambs weighing over 50kg averaged €3.36/kg, with the highest prices paid for lambs close to the 50kg mark. Top price in the lambs was a pen weighing 46kg selling for €236/head (€5.08/kg).

Ewe price was variable dependent on fleshing and kill-out potential. General prices ranged between €2.30/kg and €2.50/kg, with quality ewes between 60kg and 80kg commanding some of the highest prices per kg, with top prices ranging between €2.60/kg and €3.15/kg.

Top call in the cull ewes was a 108kg ewe that sold for €286 (€2.65/kg).