The mart trade is solid, with keen demand for all categories of stock. Factories and wholesale buyers continue to underpin demand for hoggets, with prices unchanged.

Heavier hoggets weighing from 53kg to 55kg upwards are trading on average from €217 to €226, with a selection of ewe hoggets attracting farmer interest selling above €230/head for strong sheep.

Lighter lots of slaughter-fit hoggets weighing around the 50kg to 52kg mark are trading from €202 to €215, with quality having a greater bearing on price.

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Numbers of store hoggets on offer have reduced, with demand holding firm. Well-presented lowland stores are selling on average from €3.70/kg to €4/kg, with select lots to €4.10/kg to €4.20/kg.

At the other end of the quality spectrum, some tail-end and stunted hoggets are selling back to €3.20/kg to €3.50/kg.

The high prices seen in pre-Easter sales for spring lambs are not as common. Prices paid for lighter lambs weighing from 42kg to 45kg and likely to hit maximum factory carcase weights are selling from €205 to €212, with butcher buyer interest in cases pushing prices to €220-plus. This is especially the case for heavier lambs.

There is a wide differential in top prices paid in marts, with a vibrant butcher trade and those reliant on the factory outlet.

Demand for ewes with lambs at foot is firm. The general run of prices for twin lamb units comprising medium-sized second and third crop lowland ewes is from €270 to €330, with lots comprising younger ewes, strong lambs or large-framed ewes rising to €360 and as high as €400 in isolated cases.

Likewise, single lamb lots range anywhere from €200 to €250 in the main, with top-quality and young ewes to €300 and upwards.

Scottish Blackface ewes are trading from €130 to €200 depending on age and quality, with top twin lamb outfits exceeding €200.

Cull ewes are unchanged, with lowland ewes selling from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg on average. There are very few ewes selling for less than €2/kg, with good Scotch ewes from €1.75/kg to €2/kg and weaker lots back to €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg.