The trade for slaughter-fit lambs has been much livelier since the start of the week, underpinned by factory agents being given more purchasing power to source sheep, with factories keen to compensate for lower numbers coming on stream via direct farm sales.

This has occurred against a backdrop of tighter numbers on offer, while, in some cases, mart managers report online sales helping the trade as buyers do not know who they are bidding against.

Prices for slaughter-fit lambs have increased anywhere from €2 to €4 per head. Factory-type lambs weighing upwards of 50kg are trading from €114 to €120 for fleshed lots, while top-quality butcher and wholesale-type lowland lambs are ranging in price from €118 to €124. Isolated lots have hit as high as €127 to €130 in recent days.

Lighter lots weighing 47kg to 49kg range on average from €108 to €116, with quality and flesh cover having a big bearing on price.

The store lamb trade has also improved, with specialist finishers more active, while housing of cattle has also sparked more interest for lambs. Prices vary greatly across marts, depending on numbers on offer and the type of lamb present.

Good tight-wooled lowland lambs weighing 35kg to 38kg have sold between €90 and €100 in some sales, with lighter lots weighing 32kg to 34kg ranging from €82 to €90.

Prices are €5 to €7 lower in cases for crossbred and well-presented hill lambs in the same weight categories, with demand also strengthening.

Light Scotch lambs weighing less than 30kg are trading from €2/kg for poor-quality types to €2.30/kg or higher for better-quality lots.

Entries of cull ewes have also tightened significantly, which is not surprising given farmers have sorted their breeding flock and moved higher numbers in recent weeks.

Prices remain steady, with fleshed ewes selling on average from €100 to €120 for large-framed lots and higher for very heavy continental-bred ewes.

Medium-sized fleshed ewes including crossbreds are selling from €85 to €100, with a firm demand for feeding ewes helping to keep a floor under the trade. Light lowland ewes lacking flesh are trading from €55 to €70, with hill types from €30 to €55 per head.