A high percentage of mart managers are reporting a sharper tone to the trade for both slaughter-fit and store lambs.

Factory agents are exhibiting a greater appetite, with lamb prices firmer in many sales to the tune of €1 to €2/head.

A significant differential remains between prices paid where wholesalers and butcher buyers are dominating the trade.

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Here, well-fleshed lambs weighing from 50kg to 53kg are trading from €180 to €190, depending on quality, with choice and heavier lambs weighing up to 57kg to 60kg rising to – and in cases topping – €200/head. Lighter fleshed lots weighing 48kg to 49kg range from €175 to €180 on average.

The trade where factory buyers dominate ranges in general from €175 to €180 for quality lowland lambs, falling back to €170 for lesser-quality types or ram lambs lacking flesh cover.

There has been a marked improvement in the trade for store lambs in marts that were struggling due to drought conditions. In some cases, prices have improved by 10c/kg to 20c/kg.

The best demand remains for well-presented lowland wether and ewe lambs, with prices averaging in the region of €3.50/kg to €3.75/kg.

There are select lots topping this range and, likewise, there are some lesser-quality and crossbred types selling from €3.20/kg to €3.50/kg.

The trade for light Scottish Blackface lambs is highly variable, with quality having a marked influence on price.

At the higher end of the market, well-grown lambs and those capable of carrying weight are selling upwards of €2.70/kg to €3/kg, while poor-quality and small-framed light lambs are selling back to €2.50/kg and under.

Demand for ewe hoggets in general mart sales remains sluggish. Good-quality hoggets are trading from €250 to €300/head, with some excellent-quality lots exceeding €300/head and selling to €350 to €370/head in small numbers.

Lighter lots and some crossbred types are selling from €240 to €260/head with some plainer-quality types and lots requiring significant feeding back to €200 and under.

The cull ewe trade is mixed. A price of €2/kg to €2.25/kg continues to buy a high percentage of fleshed ewes with select top-quality lots selling to €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg.