Strong sheep prices do not seem to be a flash in the pan and should remain intact for the next few weeks, at least according to mart managers.

One manager said 90% of sales are made up of hoggets, with spring lambs still very much in the minority. He believes with hogget numbers getting scarcer from now on and spring lamb numbers slow to take their place, prices should remain buoyant.

Some very strong prices were paid for hoggets over the last number of days, with heavy hoggets in demand. In some sales, very heavy hoggets weighing over 55kg made over €155/head, with top prices breaching the €160/head mark.

In general, hoggets weighing over 50kg are moving at €135 to €150/head. Lighter hoggets weighing 45kg to 49kg are selling for €115 to €130/head, or €70 to €81 over the weight.

Spring lamb numbers are slow to increase since the spike in the supply at Easter.

Lambs weighing 43kg to 45kg are selling for €130 to €140/head. Where butchers are keen for new-season lamb in sales, the extra competition is helping to boost prices above €140/head.

Lighter lambs weighing 36kg to 40kg are selling for €110 to €125/head. The lower supply means buyers will continue to focus their attention on hoggets where greater numbers are available.

Mart managers are also commenting that ewes with lambs at foot are not arriving in sales to the same extent as previous years. Top prices for ewes with two lambs at foot are up to €235/unit, with prices ranging from €170 to €230/unit most common. Ewes with one lamb are selling from €130 to €200/unit.

Fleshed cull ewes are selling at €130 to €140/head, with top prices exceeding €155/head in sales. Lighter ewes in need of feeding are moving at €100 to €125/head.