Many mart managers report a notable increase over the last week in demand from butchers and wholesale buyers.

This is being driven by butchers continuing to benefit from renewed demand during lockdown restrictions and buyers boosting supplies required in the run-in to Christmas.

Some managers report these buyers being more concerned about the availability of good-quality lambs as we progress into December and ensuring they have sufficient supplies on hand.

The increased appetite has witness top-quality fleshed lambs weighing in excess of 50kg trading on average from €122 to €127, with the best-quality lots hitting €130 per head.

Factory agents are also competing with greater intensity for heavier sheep since carcase weight limits have increased and this is generating solid competition.

Lambs weighing in excess of 50kg but lacking quality or flesh cover or presented as ram lambs are trading from €115 to €121.

Lighter stores weighing 36kg to 40kg are selling on average from €85 to €92 for mixed-quality types

Lighter lowland lots weighing 47kg to 49kg are selling from €116 to €119, with the best of these lambs hitting and exceeding €120 per head. A similar differential of up to €3 to €5 per head is evident across similar-weight lowland stores of varying quality. Short-keep lambs weighing 44kg to 46kg are selling from €107 to €114, depending on flesh cover.

Lighter stores weighing 36kg to 40kg are selling on average from €85 to €92 for mixed-quality types, while well-presented lambs are selling from €94 to €105. Scottish Blackface lambs of similar weight are selling from €70 to €76 for plainer-quality types at the bottom of this weight range to €80 to €88 for good-quality well-grown lambs.

Lowland feeding ewes with any potential to do a quick thrive and carry weight are selling from €85 to €100

The cull ewe trade is visibly livelier, with factory agents showing much more interest and willing to compete stronger. Fleshed medium-sized and large-framed culls are easily exceeding €100, with good ewes selling to €120.

Select heavy carcase ewes with the potential to kill in excess of 40kg carcase weight are selling from €117 to €130 per head.

Lowland feeding ewes with any potential to do a quick thrive and carry weight are selling from €85 to €100. Meanwhile, Scottish Blackface ewes are selling from €47 to €60 for fleshed medium-sized ewes and to over €70 for large-framed ewes.