The trade in sheep marts for slaughter-fit lambs has increased on average by another €3 to €5 per head, with some marts reporting prices increasing by €5 to €8 on the previous week.

Top-quality fleshed lambs weighing in excess of 50kg are trading for more than €150 as the week has progressed, with prices averaging €100 per head over the weight or €105 over for select lambs, with top prices hitting €158 to €160 per head.

Entries are falling off and this is inserting more life into the trade

Quality lambs weighing 48kg to 49kg are also capable of rising above the €150 mark where they are attracting butcher or wholesale buyer interest.

Lambs of a similar weight but possessing a lower cover of flesh are selling back to €145.

Entries are falling off and this is inserting more life into the trade, with factories exhibiting an appetite for lambs from 43kg to 44kg upwards as long as they have a sufficient flesh cover.

Prices for lambs ranging in weight from 44kg to 47kg are running anywhere from €135 to €145 per head, depending on quality.

Prices paid for crossbred and hill lambs have also increased in line with factory prices

Demand for heavier store lambs is holding firm, with short-keep lambs particularly in demand.

Lowland store lambs are easily topping a price of €3/kg, with prices of €3.20/kg to €3.30/kg being paid for well-presented lighter lambs evenly matched on weight and type.

Prices paid for crossbred and hill lambs have also increased in line with factory prices, with Scottish Blackface lambs selling from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg and crossbred lambs selling to €3/kg and higher.

Cull ewes

There is also much more life entering the trade for cull ewes, with numbers on offer running at a low level in most marts.

Prices of €155 to €180 have been recorded more frequently over the last week for top-quality well-fleshed ewes weighing 90kg and upwards, while fleshed ewes weighing from 80kg to 85kg are trading from €125 to €155.

The vibrant store lamb trade is also adding strength to the trade for feeding ewes.

Prices for ewes weighing 75kg to 80kg range anywhere from €100 to €130, with factory agents also active for ewes with a medium cover of flesh.

Scottish Blackface ewes continue to trade in the main from€1.10/kg to €1.30/kg, with heavier ewes selling to €1.40/kg and higher.