The number of finished lambs appearing in sales has reduced in some marts, with some managers commenting that farmers are delaying presenting lambs and presenting at heavier weights in a bid to maximise returns.

Lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg are trading from €92 to €98 on average, with a few lots of top-quality butcher-type lambs rising to €100-plus.

Factory agents are limited in prices paid by continued pressure on factory prices. Fleshed lambs weighing 44kg to 47kg are selling on average from €87 to €94. Ewe lambs with breeding potential are attracting a premium of €5 to €8 above equivalent-weight lambs, with the best-quality lots suitable for breeding this year selling from €110 to €125 on average.

Store lamb demand is being helped by grass buyer interest now being joined by farmers purchasing lambs for grazing catch crops. Light hill stores range from €1.55/kg to €1.75/kg rising to €1.90/kg for crossbred lambs. Lowland tight-wooled stores are selling on average from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg for lots weighing 37kg to 41kg.

Hogget prices remain very variable. Small-framed and crossbred hoggets are trading from €120 to €135, with good-quality hoggets from €145 to €155 and small numbers of top-quality lots to €170. There are few selling above this range.

First- and second-crop ewes are trading from €100 to €120 on average, with small numbers of top-quality large-framed ewes to €135.

The cull ewe trade is also influenced by downward factory price pressure. Heavy ewes are selling on average from €85 to €100, with small numbers to €110 and higher. Feeding ewes are selling from €55 to €75, with hill ewes back to €30 to €40 for light types.