There is more competition in the finished lamb trade this week which has helped to at least stabilise prices.

Opening quotes for Thursday are similar to the start of the week at €9/kg for quality assured lambs, with mart prices edging upwards by €1 to €3/head.

Demand for store lambs is holding firm with prices averaging from €3.50/kg to €3.80/kg and rising to upwards of €4/kg for select lots of well-presented lowland stores.

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The first sale of breeding sheep in Tullow Mart also started positively with hoggets averaging over €300/head and selling to a top of €360/head.