While the busy sales period for lowland breeding sheep has passed, the trade is holding solid for the smaller numbers that are appearing.

Quality has also declined, which is to be expected, but prices relative to quality are firm.

Tail-end and average-quality hoggets are trading from €150 to €165, but better-quality lots are still capable of selling to €180 to €190, with isolated cases of excellent-quality types hitting and exceeding €200 per head.

Ewe lambs are also selling briskly

In contrast, hill sheep sales are in their peak trading period and are also recording prices running on average anywhere from €15 to €30 ahead of 2019 levels.

Good-quality Cheviot and Scottish Blackface ewe hoggets are selling from €170 to €230, with lighter types selling back to €130 to €140.

Ewe lambs are also selling briskly, with strong lambs ranging in price from €110 to €160 and higher in cases, while light lambs sold in general sales range from €70 to €100 for top-quality lots.

The trade for finished lambs is steady to possibly €1 to €2 weaker in cases. Numbers continue to remain tight.

A significant percentage of factory lambs weighing 47kg upwards are selling from €105 to €112, with select lots €3 to €5 higher. Some ram lambs weighing well but lacking flesh are selling back to €100 and in cases shy of this mark.

Ewe lambs in cases are attracting a premium and rising to €2.50/kg or much higher

Store lambs remain a good trade. Lowland lots weighing upwards of 40kg remain at a range of €85 to €95.

Lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg are selling from €2/kg for plain-quality crossbreds to €2.20/kg to €2.35/kg for nice-quality tight-wooled lowland lambs.

Ewe lambs in cases are attracting a premium and rising to €2.50/kg or much higher for lambs with good breeding potential.

Scotch ram lambs range in price from €1.80/kg to €2/kg for light lots and a top of €2/kg to €2.15/kg for larger-framed lambs suitable for a short finishing period.