Butchers’ hoggets over 50kg are selling mainly from €112 to €115, with prices of up €120 being paid for small numbers at the top of the market, an increase of about €2 to €4/head on the previous week.

The best factory demand is again for all well-fleshed hoggets, with the numbers on offer tightening slightly on last week.

Hoggets from 45kg to 48kg are selling mainly from €102 to €106/head for average types, with better-conformed and well-fleshed types making over €11/head. Those lacking flesh continue to be met with mixed demand from agents and prices are stagnant at €92 to €96/head for these.

Store demand is reasonably steady, although some mart managers are reporting prices to have strengthened by a euro or two.

Hoggets from 37kg to 42kg are selling mainly from €85 to €92/head. Those from 34kg to 37kg are selling mainly from €79 to €86/head, which is up slightly on last week.

The cull ewe trade is said to be quite firm, with prices of heavy fleshed types ranging mainly from €85 to €125, while older feeding ewes are selling from €60 to €80/head.

In-lamb ewes are selling from €120 to €150 for those carrying 1.6 to 1.7 lambs, with the best prices for second- and third-crop ewes. Top-quality second-crop ewes are making from €150 to €170.

Small numbers of ewes with lambs at foot are selling to upwards of €200 for twin lamb units, with single lamb lots from €140 to €180.