As we move towards the final mart sales of 2019 we can see that prices have held well across the country in the past week. While some sales have seen a slight easing of prices for factory lambs, most mart managers are reporting a firm trade for stores and fleshed lambs.

Heavy butchers lambs over 50kg are a steady trade on last week. Prices in the main are ranging from €110/head to €113/head, with some prices of over €115/head being achieved in some areas.

The factory trade has seen a slight dip in prices for lambs in recent days. Lambs from 45kg to 50kg are selling mainly from €102/head to €105/head, with some prices of up to €107/head being recorded at some sales.

However, some sales have seen prices ease by up to €2-3/head. Martwatch data shows that prices have now returned to the levels of two weeks ago.

Lambs from 42kg to 44kg have been a good trade, with some increased demand for short-keep types in some areas. Prices are ranging mainly from €89/head to €93/head, with over €94/head being achieved in some areas. Some mart managers are reporting these lambs to be a slightly stronger trade than last week.

The store trade remains strong and steady, with little to no change in prices paid for store lambs at most marts in the past few weeks.

Those from 30kg to 33kg are selling mainly from €70 to €74/head with some making over €76/head. This marks a very slight decrease in prices of €1-2/head on last week.

Those from 33kg to 35kg are selling mainly from €75/head to €80/head with some sales recording prices of up to €84/head. Again this marks only a very slight decrease in prices of about €1/head on last week.

Stores around 40kg are selling mainly from €85/head to €90/head.