Mart managers have only positives to report on the sheep mart trade in the last week. The store trade and breeding sales are both competing for the headlines. Demand for store lambs is being driven by a combination of strong grass supplies and beef farmers who are curtailed in purchasing due to BEAM requirements turning their attention to store lambs.

Breeding sales are also strong, with much more optimism in the market than in 2019

Good-quality lowland store lambs weighing 35kg to 40kg are selling on average from €44 to €50 over the weight. Wether and ewe lambs are meeting the strongest demand with presentation having a big say on prices paid. Crossbred and hill store lambs are also benefitting from the uplift in demand, with prices ranging anywhere from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.

Breeding sales are also strong, with much more optimism in the market than in 2019. Top-quality hoggets presented in special sales are selling from €190 to €220, with this range exceeded in some sales such as that held in Borris (see page 51), with nice-quality hoggets selling from €170 to €190. Prices are typically running €10 to €15 or higher ahead of 2019 levels.

There is also more bite in the trade for finished lambs, with numbers remaining low

The strength of the hogget trade is also feeding into the trade for ewe lambs. Good-quality ewe lambs weighing upwards of 40kg are selling from €110 to €130, with a selection of the best-quality lots rising to €150 or higher.

There is also more bite in the trade for finished lambs, with numbers remaining low. Numbers of heavier lambs have not recovered yet following a push to draft lambs at lighter weights a few weeks ago.

Fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 48kg are trading from €110 to €118 on average, with butcher and wholesale interest pushing select entries of the best-quality lots over €120. Factories are also interested in lighter lots with flesh, but are meeting opposition from store buyers, with prices ranging from €95 to €109 for lots weighing 41kg to 43kg.