Inisowen Co-Operative Livestock Mart in Carndonagh, Co Donegal, has experienced higher throughput than normal in recent weeks, with sales averaging in excess of 2,500 lambs.

These three ram lambs averaging 40.7kg sold for €93 (€2.29/kg).

Manager Harry Molloy says the vibrant store lamb trade has been a significant contributor to the higher numbers, with farmers showing lambs earlier to take advantage of the trade. While prices have eased from the highs in August, they are holding firm and this is particularly true taking account of recent factory price pressure.

This group of five Suffolk ewe lambs weighing 36kg sold for €88 (€2.44/kg).

Nice-quality lowland store lambs weighing 35kg to 40kg sold on average from €2.25/kg to €2.40/kg on Saturday. There were some plainer-quality lots below this range and, likewise, some better-quality lots, including nicely presented ewe lambs that sold to €2.50/kg.

These Texel-cross ram lambs weighing 38.7kg sold for €88 (€2.27/kg).

Numbers of slaughter-weight lambs were tight, but these met solid demand. Lambs weighing 48kg upwards sold in general from €108 to €110, with top-quality ewe lambs securing a premium on price.

Scottish Blackface ram lambs weighing 25kg to 33kg sold on average from €1.85/kg to €2.00/kg.

These two fleshed Texel ram lambs weighing 48kg sold for €110 (€2.29/kg).

There was good demand for Scotch ewe lambs of similar weight, with prices starting at €2/kg for plainer types and rising to €2.20/kg to €2.45/kg for top-quality lots.

This batch of 14 Scottish Blackface ram lambs weighing 31.9kg sold for €58 (€1.82/kg).

These six nice-quality Scottish Blackface ewe lambs weighing 28.7kg sold for €70 (€2.44/kg).

These 14 Scottish Blackface ram lambs weighing 33.3kg sold for €64 (€1.92/kg).

These Scottish Blackface ewe lambs weighing 25.8kg sold for €60 (€2.33/kg).

This batch of six Scottish Blackface ewe lambs weighing 28.7kg sold for €63 (€2.20/kg).

These three light Texel-cross ram lambs weighing 26.7kg sold for €61 (€2.21/kg).

These five Texel-cross ewe lambs weighing 35.6kg sold for €84 (€2.30/kg).

These three crossbred lambs weighing 37.3kg sold for €89 (€2.39/kg).

This Texel-cross ram lamb weighing 34kg sold for €81 (€2.38/kg).

These four Texel-cross ram lambs weighing 37.5 kg sold for €87 (€2.32/kg).

These Scottish Blackface ewe lambs weighing 32.4kg sold for €62 (€1.91/kg).