Sheep sales or collection points held over the last week have been largely positive from a seller’s perspective.

The trade has been underpinned by intense buyer demand for lambs, hoggets and cull ewes.

This demand has been driven by factory agents keen to supplement direct factory throughput, while firm demand from butchers restocking after Easter added more life into the trade for spring lambs.

Well-fleshed lambs weighing 42kg to 46kg sold in general from €128 to €140, with heavier and exceptional-quality lots breaching the €140-per-head mark.

Factory agents and butcher buyers were willing to drop down in the weight as long as lambs were fleshed. Lots weighing 39kg to 41kg sold on average from €118 to as high as €130 for top-quality lots.

Hoggets also continue to meet strong demand. Hoggets weighing upwards of 50kg and possessing a good cover of flesh are trading from €137 to €144 on average, with higher paid in cases.

Ewe hoggets are also in demand, but numbers of suitable breeding sheep are low.

Cull ewes prices are up anywhere from €5 to €10 in recent weeks. Average-quality ewes with a cover of flesh are topping €100 in most cases and selling to €110 to €115. Better-quality heavy ewes are selling from €120 to €140 ,while higher prices have been reported in marts in the southeast.

Ewes with lambs at foot are trading from €160 to €200 on average for young ewes with good lambs at foot, with twin lamb outfits rising to €220 to €230 and even higher, with numbers appearing low and demand outstripping supply. Poor-quality lots are selling for €50 to €70 below these price ranges.