The sheep trade remains brisk, with good demand from both factory agents and butchers.

Raphoe Mart had a big entry of hoggets on Monday and prices ranged from €110/head to a top of €282 for a pair of super Texel hoggets weighing 77.5kg each.

This Texel-cross fat ewe weighed 75kg and sold for €196.

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Light spring lambs in the 34kg to 38kg weight category sold from €120/head to €140/head.

Heavier lambs in the 38kg to 43kg weight category sold from €140/head to €160/head, while spring lambs weighing from 43kg to 50kg sold from €160/head to €186/head.

These seven hoggets weighed 55kg and sold for €186/head.

Ewes with lambs

There was also good appetite for ewes with lambs at foot, with prices ranging from €150/head to €210/head for ewes with single lambs.

This Texel ewe sold with her single lamb at foot for €200.

Ewes with twin lambs at foot topped out at €305/head, with prices from €180 up.

Cull ewes sold from €90 to €196, depending on weight level of finish.

These pair of Suffolk-cross fat ewes weighed 110kg and sold for €194/head.

Commenting on the trade, Raphoe Mart manager Ann Harkin said: “We’ve seen a super trade for sheep all spring here in Raphoe. We’ve seen massive demand from local butchers this year for hoggets and spring lamb.”

Raphoe Mart holds its weekly sheep sales on Mondays at 11am and their weekly cattle sales take place on Thursdays at 11am.

This Charrollais-cross hogget ewe with her two lambs sold for €230.