Sheep sales are a good place to be currently, especially if you have something to sell. There is no shortage of demand for all types of sheep, with butchers, wholesalers, factory agents and store purchasers all out in force. Butchers and factory agents have been battling it out for tight lamb supplies.

Prices are settling after massive gains of €4 to €5/head seen last week. Lambs over 50kg are selling from €120/head, with a big proportion making €127/head up to €132/head.

Lambs weighing 46kg to 49kg continue to sell anywhere from €110 to €120/head. Some mart managers have commented that prices for short-keep store lambs have sharpened, with lambs weighing 40kg to 44kg selling from €103 to €115/head. Most of the lambs in that weight range are moving from €107/head.

Lowland-bred store lambs weighing 35kg to 39kg are selling for €90 to €100/head. Crossbred and Scotch-bred store lambs are selling from €2.40/kg to €2.80/kg, with demand holding strong.

Cull ewes

Greater factory demand for ewes is being felt in sales of cull ewes. Top prices for culls reached €133/head. Most fleshed ewes are moving at €110 to €125/head. Feeding ewes are selling from €75 to €95/head.

In Tullow Mart on Tuesday, there was a dispersal sale of 200 mule ewes. According to mart manager Eric Driver, there was a steady trade, with an average price of €155/head for all two-, three- and four- year-old hoggets carrying two lambs per ewe. There was also ewes with lambs at foot at the sale. Prices topped at €235 for aged ewes with twin lambs. Ewes with single lambs sold from a base of €170/unit.