There was a strong demand at Kenmare Mart on Monday, with more than 150 lots of lambs on offer. Hill lambs were selling close to and over €2/kg consistently, with the heavier store over 32kg selling well. Lowland and crossbred lambs were selling for €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with a few select lots of ewe lambs selling for over €2.30/kg.Cull hill ewes were making in or around €1/kg, with heavier ewes were making €5 to €10 over the €/kg.
Speaking after an excellent sales year for the southwest venue, manager, Dan McCarthy said: “The start of the year was slow enough getting going but the numbers were good during the year and the prices were mainly good,so farmers seem to be happy. There was up to €2/kg paid for Scotch lambs this week. There was €1.60 /kg to €1.70/kg for them a few months ago but they have increased well.”
The Kerry venue was a few hundred sheep short of selling 60,000 sheep.
That’s a lift of almost 10,000 on 2016 and a bigger rise again as Dan points out: “It’s a big improvement on around 30,000 sheep five or six years ago. I deeply appreciate the sheep farmers for faith and confidence they have in us selling their sheep and the buyers from up the country who seem to like the sheep that come from this area.”
Entry is 40c/head and commission rates are €1 each to the buyer and seller.