Tuesday’s sheep sale at Mayo Sligo Livestock Mart, Ballina, saw an entry of about 680 sheep and lambs on offer. Mart manager Billy Loftus said that prices were quite steady on last week, with maybe a little more bite for some types.

Heavy butchers’ lambs were low in numbers, but those over 50kg sold mainly from €101 to €106/head, with the majority making over €103/head.

This pen of 17 lambs weighing 27kg on average sold for €73.50 each (€2.72/kg).

Factory lambs from 47kg to 48kg sold mainly from €95 to €101/head. Quality and cover of flesh were the main factors affecting prices and those with a better cover were faster to sell.

Lambs from 44kg to 46kg were a solid trade, with prices ranging mainly from €92 to €94/head, with better-quality lowland lambs making the upper end of the prices.

This pen of seven lambs weighing 43kg on average sold for €90.50 each (€2.10/kg).

Average prices were back slightly on last week, but quality was the main factor influencing prices.

Forward store lambs from 42kg to 44kg were quite a steady trade and sold mainly from a low of €82 for crossbred lambs to €91/head for better-quality types.

Store lambs from 38kg to 41kg sold mainly from €81 to €90/head, with prices averaging at about €86 to €87/head.

This pen of 12 lambs weighing 50kg on average sold for €106 each (€2.12/kg).

Lighter store lambs from 35kg to 37kg sold mainly from €80 to €83/head, with light Blackface cross lambs making from €55 to €75/head and prices averaging around €70/head for light lambs and lesser-quality types.

Cull ewes were a strong trade again, holding firm on last week. Prices topped out at €125/head for a pair of top-quality heavy ewes. The main demand saw ewes sell from €100 to €120.

This pen of 14 lambs weighing 38kg on average sold for €80.50 each (€2.12/kg).

There were a share of plainer-quality types, which sold from €60 to €80/head. Dry ewes sold to €130/head, with prices averaging at about €89/head.

There was a small sale of cattle, but the trade was fairly firm for good-quality types.

This pen of seven lambs weighing 42kg on average sold for €82 each (€1.95/kg).

Heavy bullocks over 500kg sold from €1.85/kg to €2.00/kg for average-quality types, with better-quality continentals making over €2.20/kg. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg. Weanling bulls sold to €2.26/kg.

This pen of 12 lambs weighing 51kg on average sold for €101 each (€1.98/kg).

The majority of heifers on offer were stores, but there were some forward heifers on offer also. Heifers over 500kg sold to €2.10/kg. Those from 400kg to 500kg sold from €800 to €925/head. Cows with calves at foot sold from €1,100 to €1,720/head.

This pen of 20 store lambs weighing sold for €75 each.

This pen of 12 lambs weighing 47kg on average sold for €100 each (€2.13/kg).

This pen of six lambs weighing 49kg on average sold for €95 each (€1.94/kg).

This pen of eight lambs weighing 47kg on average sold for €92 each (€1.96/kg).