Wednesday’s general cattle sale at Tullamore Mart saw a seasonal entry of about 350 sheep on offer. The trade was quite strong once again, with factory agents and butchers active for all slaughter fit lots.

Almost one third of the butchers’ lambs on offer were good-quality heavy types and these were met with very strong demand. The majority of those over 52kg sold mainly from €126/head to €128/head or from €2.33/kg to €2.46/kg, depending on quality.

This pen of 10 hoggets weighing 55kg on average sold for €128 each (€2.33/kg).

Factory lambs from 47kg to 50kg sold mainly from €118/head to €120/head, with some choice lots making over €123/head. On a price-per-kilo basis, they sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg.

Well-fleshed hoggets from 45kg to 47kg sold mainly from €110/head to €115/head or from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg. There was a good entry of short-keep hoggets over 40kg. Farmer buyers and agents were active for these. They sold mainly from €103/head to €105/head.

This pen of 18 hoggets weighing 52kg on average sold for €122 each (€2.35/kg).

Hoggets with breeding potential sold for over €110/head. Stores from 35kg to 40kg were a strong trade and sold from €81/head or €2.31/kg to a top of €102/head or €2.72/kg. There were only a small number of light lambs on offer under 35kg, which sold from €68/head to €76/head. Commission rates are €1.30 to the buyer and €2 to the seller.

This pen of eight hoggets weighing 49kg on average sold for €118 each (€2.41/kg).

This pen of three hoggets weighing 37.5kg sold for €102 each (€2.72/kg).

This pen of six hoggets weighing 38.5kg on average sold for €94 each (€2.44/kg).