While numbers are small, the trade for ewes with lambs at foot has started excellently. Managers report ewes with twin lambs selling anywhere from €200 per outfit to €280, with prices dependent on the age, size and condition of ewes and strength of lambs.

Single lamb lots are selling from €170 to €240 per head, again dependent on quality.

The trade for in-lamb ewes is also firm, helped by a strong cull ewe trade and lower cost of replacing ewes.

Young ewes carrying 1.5 to two lambs per ewe are selling in general from €160 to €215, with top-quality lots exceeding this range.

Older ewes are selling from €140 to €180, with good-quality single-bearing ewes attracting a similar price.

The cull ewe trade is largely unchanged. Good-quality, slaughter-fit lowland ewes are trading from €90 to €120, with large-framed, heavy carcase ewes selling in cases to €140 per head.

Ewes with a lower cover of flesh are selling from €80 upwards, with low numbers below this price.

Factory agents have eased competition levels, although mart managers report prices generally holding, or in cases easing, by €1 to €2 per head. This is most relevant for lower-quality or lots lacking flesh. Lambs weighing 50kg upwards are selling from €120 to €128 for lots with a low to average cover of flesh, with fleshed lots to €132 to €135 per head. Lots weighing 45kg to 48kg are selling from €110 to €118 per head.

Short-keep stores are selling from €2/kg to €2.20/kg for lowland lots, with crossbred lots selling back to €1.85/kg for those requiring significant further feeding. Ewe lambs are, in cases, attracting a €5 to €10 premium, with many mart managers reporting interest from farmers operating specialised replacement hogget systems.