A stronger demand for store lambs in Baltinglass Mart in the last two weeks has underpinned an increase in price of €1 to €2 per head.

Reporting on Saturday’s sale, mart manager Joe Kinsella said the lift has been particularly noticeable for lambs weighing 35kg to 40kg, with prices for good lowland types ranging from €2.00/kg to a top of €2.10/kg.

Demand for Cheviot and Cheviot-cross lambs has also lifted, with a €5 per head differential typically present between hill and continental breeds. Joe says that another obvious trend which has developed this year is more Cheviot lambs being offered as wether over ram lambs, a trend which Joe says is benefitting demand.

Joe says the main season for trading top-quality ewe lambs has passed, with ewe lambs being offered now selling for store or finished lamb price. Good-quality fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 50kg are selling on average from €45 to €52 over the weight.

While prices have been lower than previous years, Joe says that once the trade settled for breeding, sheep numbers started to move with greater ease. He has also seen a resurgence in demand for good-quality second- and third-crop Cheviot ewes, some of which have been exceeding hogget prices. These ewes are selling from €85 to €105 with the best lots to €130, while Cheviot hoggets average €110 to €125.