Last Saturday’s sheep sale in Mountbellew Mart, Co Galway, included a special ewe lamb and ewe hogget sale. According to mart chair Eamonn Moran, the demand for ewe lambs and store lambs was significantly sharper than recent weeks, with more buyers in attendance.

Strong nice-quality ewe lambs weighing 47kg upwards sold from €100 to €110 on average, with a number of top-quality pens of Suffolk lambs rising to and exceeding the €120 mark, while a top price of €132 was paid for a pen of Milford ewe lambs. Lighter ewe lambs with breeding potential attracted a premium over equivalent-weight store lambs of €3 to €5 per head. Lowland stores weighing 37kg to 40kg sold from €78 to €85, with heavier lambs weighing up to 44kg rising to €87 to €90.

Demand for factory lambs was steady, with fleshed ram lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg selling from €92 to €97. Ewe lambs were a similar trade, with a top price of €102 paid for a good pen of lambs weighing 53kg.

There was also more bite in the hogget trade. Average-quality hoggets sold from €120 to €140, with good-quality hoggets from €150 to €170, while the best-quality lots sold to a top of €201.

Commission rates are €2 to the seller and €1.44 to the buyer. Cattle sales continue weekly at 6pm. See www.farmersjournal.ie for more sale photos.