The two-tiered trade for store lambs has been very evident in recent weeks.

Torrential rainfall, a sharp deterioration in ground conditions in many parts of the country and high concentrate prices have eroded confidence, with specialist finishers slower to purchase light hill and crossbred lambs.

Prices for light lambs remain anywhere from €1.80/kg to €2.20/kg depending on lamb type, size and current flesh cover.

Contrast

In contrast, the trade for forward store lambs and well-presented lowland lambs is withstanding the effects of adverse weather much better.

Some mart managers report increased demand from cattle farmers who have housed animals earlier and tillage farmers starting to graze forage crops.

There is a common theme in many of the reports – buyers want a lamb that offers the prospect of finishing primarily off grass or forage crops without significant concentrate input.

Prices for good-quality wether and ewe lambs weighing from 38kg to 40kg upwards are averaging from €2.65/kg to €2.85/kg, with a selection of the best-quality lambs rising in cases to €2.90/kg to €3.00/kg.

Premium

There is a premium for wether over ram lambs, with some buyers purchasing lambs to clean off swards concerned about flesh cover on ram lambs in current conditions.

Marts held on Wednesday recorded more life for finished lambs and prices were up anywhere from €2 to €4/head on average.

At the top end of the market, well-fleshed lowland lambs weighing upwards of 50kg are trading from €132 to €139 for factory-type lambs, rising to the mid-€140s for heavier and better-quality butcher-type lambs.

Lambs weighing 47kg to 49kg are selling anywhere from the low- to mid-€120s and up to the mid-€130s, with kill-out potential having a big bearing on price.

Reports on the cull ewe trade are variable. Heavy ewes weighing upwards of 90kg are selling in the main from €130 to €160, with some sales recording prices rising to €170 to €180 for small numbers of top-quality ewes. Light ewes are selling from €1/kg to €1.20/kg.