This week across the country, a noticeable increase in sheep numbers were presented for sale and, as a result, the trade has experienced some downward pressure.

Store lambs are a tale of two halves, with marts in the west reporting trade remaining stable, but due to a lack of grass, lambs in the south and east have seen a drop in trade.

Finished lambs have seen pressure in the last 10 days, with finished lambs weighing 48kg-plus seeing a drop of €15 to €20/head.

Finished lambs weighing over 55kg are selling from €200 to €205/head, with lambs weighing from 48kg to 52kg selling from €180 to €195/head, depending on breed and flesh cover.

Well-fleshed lambs that will kill out well and weighing from 45kg to 47kg are selling from €170 to €180/head, while lambs the same weight with poor flesh cover are selling from €160/head upwards.

The store lamb trade seems to have remained steady in the west where grass supply isn’t under the same pressure, with lambs weighing from 40kg to 45kg selling for €145 to €160/head, with lambs in the south and east trailing by €10/head as a result of grass supply.

Lambs in the 35kg to 40kg weight bracket are selling from €130/head upwards, with breeding-type ewe lambs starting to appear and fetching an added premium, selling as high as €180/head in some marts.

Lambs weighing between 30kg and 35kg are starting to appear in bigger numbers and they are selling from €100/head upwards to €130/head, with farmers paying more for well-made lowland-type sheep.

The cull ewe trade is seeing some downward pressure, with more ewes starting to appear, with not as many crossing the €300/head mark and heavy ewes weighing 100kg selling from €280/head upwards.

Ewes weighing 80kg and heavier are selling from €220/head, with more store-type ewes weighing 70kg to 80kg weight from €180/head up to €220.

There are small numbers of hoggets on the scene yet with this week kicking off some big sales, selling from €330 up to €370/head, with some breeding ewes from €250/head upwards.