The trade for breeding sheep remains highly variable. A few special breeding sales held in the last week reported a relatively positive trading environment, with prices averaging above €300/head for hoggets.

In contrast, many mart managers report a sluggish trade for ewe hoggets traded in conjunction with general sheep sales.

Here, prices are averaging more in the region of €270 to €280/head. A selection of excellent-quality lots are topping the €300/head mark, but, in many cases, good-quality hoggets are selling from €280 to €310.

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Lighter but nice-quality hoggets are selling from €260 to €290/head, while poorer-quality hoggets and some light crossbred sheep that will struggle to grow into hoggets of significant size are selling back to €200 to €220.

The mart trade also remains variable for finished lambs, with a number of sales continuing to record higher prices than equivalent factory returns.

This is particularly the case for top-quality lambs in excellent condition in marts with a strong wholesale and butcher-buyer trade.

Prices paid range from €180 to €187/head for lambs weighing 50kg to 52kg, with select lots of heavier lambs topping the €190 mark. This is a differential of over €10/head for lambs of a similar weight, but meeting varied demand.

Prices for lambs weighing 50kg to 54kg are averaging in the region of €170 to €178 in sales reliant on factory agents.

The store lamb trade is unchanged. Lowland lambs are selling on average from €3.25/kg to €3.50/kg, with select lots hitting €3.60/kg-plus. Poorer-quality types and some hill lambs are selling back to €3/kg, with some very light lambs with less scope to carry weight falling below the €3/kg mark.

The cull ewe trade is boosted in sales where there are buyers purchasing for abattoirs and subdued in sales reliant on the factory trade.

Fleshed ewes are from €2.15/kg to €2.25/kg, with select lots to €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg. Feeding ewes are selling from €1.75/kg to €2/kg with hill ewes anywhere from €1/kg for lots lacking flesh to €1.40/kg to €1.80/kg for better and heavier ewes.