Ballinasloe Livestock Mart hosted its last sheep sale of the year last Thursday, attracting 700 sheep.

In what was described as a brisk trade, all but 80 sold on the day resulting in an 89% clearance rate.

This lot of 20 lambs weighed 43.9kg and sold for €106 (€2.41/kg). \ David Ruffles

Lamb trade proved strong on the day, with select lots making over €3/kg. Overall average was €2.52/kg or €105/head.

Stags were harder sold, but still came into an average of €1.64/kg or €104/head.

This group of 14 lambs weighed 46.8kg and sold for €123 (€2.63/kg).

Speaking after the sale, Ballinasloe mart manager Eilish Curley said: “It was a brisk trade throughout. We had a lot of farmer buyers, with agents also knocking about for fit sheep.

This lot of four lambs weighed 18.8kg and sold for €43 (€2.29/kg). \ David Ruffles

“Prices seem to be well up on the year, with particular demand for ewe lambs.

“Overall, 2020 has been very good for sheep. We’ve had quite big sales with the larger numbers starting earlier in the year.”

This lot of 13 lambs weighed 44.2kg and sold for €117 (€2.65/kg). \ David Ruffles

Lambs

Lambs made up the vast majority of the 700 sheep on offer, with a good offering in store condition.

Few sheep failed to meet the 30kg mark, but the better-quality ones that did were sought after. One batch of 28kg lambs sold for €80 (€2.91/kg).

This lot of 10 lambs weighed 38.5kg and sold for €96 (€2.49/kg). \ David Ruffles

Moving into the 30kg to 40kg bracket, lambs were more plentiful and saw an average of €2.65/kg.

These prices were led by a group of 36kg ewe lamb which sold for an impressive €124 or €3.44/kg.

This lot of 11 lambs weighed 37.3kg and sold for €94 (€2.52/kg). \ David Ruffles

A batch of lighter lambs also hit the €3/kg mark when sold for €90 each.

The most lambs on offer were sold weighing between 40kg and 50kg.

This lot of 16 lambs weighed 40kg, but went unsold. \ David Ruffles

This pair of Jacob lambs weighed 42.5kg and sold for €105 (€2.47/kg). \ David Ruffles

These were led by a super batch of continental lambs which weighed 43kg and sold for €114 (€2.65).

Around the €2.60/kg mark was freely available for the better-quality lots on offer, with overall average for lambs weighing between 40kg and 50kg settling at €2.55/kg,

This lot of 17 lambs weighed 31.9kg and sold for €95 (€2.98/kg). \ David Ruffles

As mentioned, factory agents and specialist finishers were in attendance trying to secure slaughter-fit and short-keep stock.

Sheep in excess of 50kg and below the 60kg mark came into a healthy average of €2.28/kg.

This lot of seven lambs weighed 49.3kg and sold ofr €117 (€2.37/kg). \ David Ruffles

This lot of eight lambs weighed 43.8kg and sold for €110 (€2.51/kg). \ David Ruffles

This was led by a lot of 52kg lambs who hit the market at €171 (€3.26/kg), while there was also a couple of aged ewes with a single lamb at foot which sold for €171 and €190 per unit.

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