After some improvements in the lamb trade last week, prices are holding steady. Both factory agents and exporters have been actively buying up ram lambs ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival.

The festival has kept a floor under the trade after a difficult period of price falls.

Factory-fit lambs weighing 45kg to 49kg are selling from €98 to €110/head and heavy lambs are making up to €115/head.

Mart managers are commenting that some lambs presented for sale are weighing OK, but flesh cover is not always adequate and these lambs are making lower prices.

The store trade is starting to improve, with more buyers making an appearance for the first time this season. The recent rain is helping to boost store buyers’ confidence that grass supplies will come back on track for feeding lambs. Short-keep lowland bred lambs weighing 40kg to 42kg are selling for €90 to €95/head. Lambs weighing 35kg to 39kg are selling from €80 to €88/head and lighter lambs weighing 30kg to 35kg are making €70 to €80/head.

Crossbred lambs are selling from €1.90/kg to €2/kg. Scotch-bred lambs are selling from €1.50/kg where the trade is poor up to €1.80/kg in sales experiencing a stronger trade.

Breeding ewe sales are starting now too. Good-quality hoggets are selling from €150/head to €180/head. Some smaller-framed hoggets are selling back at €120 to €140/head.

Cull ewes

Heavy large-framed cull ewes are selling from €110 to €120/head. Smaller-framed fleshed ewes are making €100 to €108/head. Lowland-bred ewes in need of feeding are selling from €65 to €95/head.