A positive trade in marts continues with higher than anticipated throughput matched with an equivalent increase in demand.

Factory agents were keener for hoggets and in sales with buyers purchasing for the wholesale trade, this led to a strengthening in prices paid.

Good-quality hoggets weighing in excess of 52kg to 54kg sold on average from €210 to €225, with the best-quality lots rising to €230 in cases.

Lesser-quality lots, including some crossbred types and lighter hoggets weighing back to 50kg, sold anywhere from €200 to €210/head, with flesh cover dictating prices paid.

The vibrant trade for slaughter-fit hoggets is underpinning store hogget prices of €3.70/kg to upwards of €4/kg liveweight for the best-quality lots, with numbers remaining tight.

The trade for small numbers of spring lambs was dependent on the level of butcher buyer activity.

With a factory price of €10/kg, factory agents were keen to maintain prices in the region of €200 to €210.

However, where butcher buyers were active, they were willing to compete to €220/head, with a selection of excellent-quality types rising to €230 and higher in special sales, with prices topping €240 to €250 in small numbers.

Cull ewes are also a solid trade, with the general range from €2.80/kg to upwards of €3/kg, with buyers active in the live export trade and in the high-value export carcase market keen for top-quality ewes.

The general run of prices for more standard-quality ewes is €2.40/kg to €2.70/kg, with plainer-quality ewes lacking flesh back to €2.10/kg.

Scottish Blackface ewes are trading from €1.80/kg to €2.10/kg for heavier-carcase ewes, with light-carcase ewes falling back to €1.50/kg.

There are small numbers of ewes with lambs at foot appearing, but prices are very variable.

Top-quality twin-lamb units are rising to €300 to €350-plus for strong lambs, with units with aged or plainer-quality ewes back to the mid-€250s.

Single lamb lots are selling anywhere from €180 to €280, with the quality of the ewe and age of the lamb again having a large bearing on price.