There is some variance being reported this week among mart managers on prices paid for finished lambs.

Some marts which had seen a significant readjustment in prices in the previous week are reporting the trade as steady to possibly being €1 per head easier while other marts are reporting a price reduction of €3 to €5 per head.

The other factor having a big bearing on the trade is the supply of finished lambs appearing, with a high percentage of mart managers reporting lower numbers of lambs with a good cover of flesh on offer.

Lighter lots weighing from 45kg to 47kg are averaging in the region of €102 to €110 depending on quality

This is helping to generate extra competition between buyers. Well-finished lambs weighing 48kg upwards are selling from €108 to €113 on average for factory-type lambs, with top-quality butcher-type lambs in cases selling to €115 to €117.

Lighter lots weighing from 45kg to 47kg are averaging in the region of €102 to €110 depending on quality, with some plain lots lacking flesh dipping under the €100 per head mark.

Store lambs

Store lambs remain a good trade and are helping to keep a floor under the trade.

Lowland lots weighing upwards of 40kg are averaging from €85 to €95, with short-keep top-quality fleshed lambs in cases selling to €100 or over. Lots weighing from 35kg to 38kg are selling from €2/kg for plain-quality crossbreds to €2.20/kg to €2.35/kg for nice-quality tight-woolled lowland lambs.

Medium-sized and average-quality hoggets are selling from €155 to €175

Quality is tailing off in breeding sales but prices are holding well, with the trade boosted by farmers receiving their ANC payments. Medium-sized and average-quality hoggets are selling from €155 to €175, with better-quality types rising to €190.

Excellent-quality lots traded in specialist breeding sales are still capable of exceeding the €200 mark and rising to a top of €210 to €215.