Following on from a strong year for sheep prices to date, the IFA says that there is demand for hoggets and lambs as the Muslim festival Ramadan gets under way next Monday.

Quarter one of 2021 has positioned itself firmly in the record books with the excellent trade for hoggets and cull ewes now joined by spring lambs topping the €200/head mark.

IFA sheep chair Sean Dennehy said that hoggets were making up to 7.70/kg, with deals available for larger lots and spring lamb was making €8.20/kg.

He said the mart trade was also competitive and in some instances prices were even better than what factories were offering. He advised farmer to sell hard while the market was strong and move hoggets and to lambs as they became fit.