Mart managers report factory agents being coyer in their purchasing activity this week, reflecting moves by factories to try to insert downward pressure on the trade.
Agents are still keen for lambs, but are not willing to compete to the same intensity as in recent weeks, with sale prices more closely aligned with factory returns.
Lambs weighing 50kg to 54kg are trading in the main from €170 to €176/head, with select lots of excellent-quality types rising to €180/head.
Ewe lambs with breeding potential are attracting a premium on price, with nice-quality lots rising to €200 and individual lots hitting as high as €250 for heavy lambs capable of being let to the ram in 2025.
Lighter factory-type lambs weighing 47kg to 49kg are trading anywhere from the low- to mid-€160s for lots with an average flesh cover and likely to achieve mixed slaughter performance to the low-€170s for well-fleshed lots.
The store trade remains solid, with a high percentage of well-presented lowland stores weighing 37kg to 40kg trading from €3.60/kg to €3.85/kg and rising to €4/kg on occasion.
Lighter types are following a similar price range, with poor-quality lots selling back to €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg and the best-quality lots to upwards of €3.80/kg to €4/kg.
Ewe hoggets are appearing in greater numbers. Better-quality hoggets with size and length are selling from €330 to €370, with excellent-quality lots rising to €400.
Medium-sized lots are selling from €290 to €320, with some light hoggets selling back to €250 to €260/head.
First- and second-crop ewes are selling anywhere from €230 to upwards of €300 for large-framed types with a good potential cull value.
The cull ewe trade has cooled somewhat in some sales, with heavier fleshed ewes selling from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, but, in other sales, prices are still falling within a range of €2.30/kg to €2.60/kg.
Ewes with a medium cover of flesh and feeding types range from €1.85/kg to €2.30/kg, while light hill ewes are selling from €1/kg for ewes lacking flesh cover to €1.35/kg and heavier carcase ewes to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.
Mart managers report factory agents being coyer in their purchasing activity this week, reflecting moves by factories to try to insert downward pressure on the trade.
Agents are still keen for lambs, but are not willing to compete to the same intensity as in recent weeks, with sale prices more closely aligned with factory returns.
Lambs weighing 50kg to 54kg are trading in the main from €170 to €176/head, with select lots of excellent-quality types rising to €180/head.
Ewe lambs with breeding potential are attracting a premium on price, with nice-quality lots rising to €200 and individual lots hitting as high as €250 for heavy lambs capable of being let to the ram in 2025.
Lighter factory-type lambs weighing 47kg to 49kg are trading anywhere from the low- to mid-€160s for lots with an average flesh cover and likely to achieve mixed slaughter performance to the low-€170s for well-fleshed lots.
The store trade remains solid, with a high percentage of well-presented lowland stores weighing 37kg to 40kg trading from €3.60/kg to €3.85/kg and rising to €4/kg on occasion.
Lighter types are following a similar price range, with poor-quality lots selling back to €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg and the best-quality lots to upwards of €3.80/kg to €4/kg.
Ewe hoggets are appearing in greater numbers. Better-quality hoggets with size and length are selling from €330 to €370, with excellent-quality lots rising to €400.
Medium-sized lots are selling from €290 to €320, with some light hoggets selling back to €250 to €260/head.
First- and second-crop ewes are selling anywhere from €230 to upwards of €300 for large-framed types with a good potential cull value.
The cull ewe trade has cooled somewhat in some sales, with heavier fleshed ewes selling from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, but, in other sales, prices are still falling within a range of €2.30/kg to €2.60/kg.
Ewes with a medium cover of flesh and feeding types range from €1.85/kg to €2.30/kg, while light hill ewes are selling from €1/kg for ewes lacking flesh cover to €1.35/kg and heavier carcase ewes to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.
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