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Ewes and lambs are an exceptionally strong trade with prices at Markethill Mart last week peaking at £332 for ewes with twins at foot.
The main trade for twin outfits saw prices of £270 to £300, while ewes with single lambs sold from £162 to £222.
Prices in Ballymena on Monday evening reached £245 for Texel ewes with twins, while good single outfits sold above £200.
In-lamb ewes
In-lamb ewes sold to a peak of £188 at Ballymena Mart on Monday evening, where a special entry of breeding sheep was forwarded by Simon Loughery, Drumsurn.
A total of 250 head went under the hammer, resulting in a sale average of £166, up from an average of £152 for a similar sale from the same breeder in early January.
Fat hoggets
Meanwhile, processing demand for fat hoggets remains buoyant with factories paying 445p to 450p/kg to stay in line with the mart trade where buying agents for southern plants are extremely active.
Fat ewes are typically selling from £120 to £140 for good quality lowland cross animals.
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