Last Saturday’s sheep sale in Carndonagh Mart, Co Donegal, witnessed a livelier trade. Manager Harry Molly reported increased demand for store lambs, combined with buyers looking for significant numbers of ewe lambs with breeding potential.

This coincided with a slightly smaller sale, stemming from the mart holding its first weekly sale as part of its transition from fortnightly to weekly sheep sales for August to October.

Harry is expecting throughput to continue to rise. He reported lowland ram lambs weighing 34kg to 38kg selling on average from €2.05/kg to €2.15/kg or €5 to €6 per head along with lambs doubling their weight, while the best-quality lots exceeded €2.20/kg.

Lighter lowland lambs secured a higher price per kilo, with the best lots weighing 28kg to 32kg selling from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg, while crossbred lots sold back to €2/kg. Scotch lambs sold from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg for quality types with a good frame.

The Inishowen peninsula has not been as badly affected by drought as other parts of the country, with Harry commenting that grass supplies have recovered quickly in recent weeks. This, he says, has also generated more interest among farmers in sourcing potential replacements.

Plainer-quality ewe lambs achieved a similar price as described above for ram lambs, while those with breeding potential attracted a premium. Good-quality lots ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.45/kg or a price range of €10 to €20 along with €2/kg, while a few pens of lambs generated stronger bidding, with top prices of €116 paid for 44kg Texel lambs, while a lighter pen of 34kg Texel-cross lambs sold for €100.

Harry said there was stronger demand for lambs batched uniformly on weight and gender. He also advised sellers with hoggets on hand that there are buyers keen to source replacements early, with supply failing to meet demand. There was only a small selection of Scotch hoggets on offer, selling from €100 to €110.

Cull ewes were a steady trade, with heavier fleshed lowland ewes selling from €95 to €120, with lots lacking flesh back to €70. Fleshed Scotch and Cheviot ewes sold from €55 to €80, with very few ewes below this price.

Commission rates for lambs are 2.5% to the buyer and seller.