The past week has seen a steady trade right across the country. While prices are relatively unchanged, there had been increased positivity over the weekend.

Heavy butchers’ lambs over 50kg are selling mainly from €100 to €105 at most sales, with prices topping out at €110/head, which is a slight increase on last week.

Marts have seen a bit more bite for lambs, but it may be short-lived.

Lambs from 45kg to 50kg are selling mainly from €96 to €101, which is up by €1 to €2/head on last week.

Agents are actively sourcing better-quality types and those with a good cover of flesh.

There are fewer lambs making under the €95/head mark this week. Those lambs from 42kg to 44kg are ranging mainly from €88 to €94/head.

The store lamb trade is still very strong. The average 40kg store is selling mainly from €78 to €82/head, or around €2/kg. But there are reports of higher prices than €84/head at the upper end of the trade.

Lighter store lambs from 35kg to 37kg are selling mainly from €77 to €79/head, depending on quality, which is steady on last week.

Lighter types from 30kg to 35kg are selling mainly from €70/head to €75/head. Mountain store lambs and horned types are selling mainly from €50 to €60 and up to €65/head at some sales.

Cull ewes

Cull ewes are a firm trade also, with the majority of fleshed ewes making from €100 to €129. The majority of cull ewes are selling from €95 to €110, with plain-quality feeding ewes and broken-mouth ewes selling from €60 to €80/head.

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Sheep prices: major regional variation in trade