There are variable reports from sheep sales this week. Many marts are reporting a smaller entries of lambs, which helped to stabilise prices. Heavier lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg continue to range in the main from €122 to €128, with top-quality butcher-type lambs rising to €130. Those weighing 43kg to 45kg are typically selling from €115 to €123.

Lighter lots weighing 40kg to 42kg are trading in the main from €108 to €114, but there is a big variation in prices paid, with some lambs coming on stream lacking flesh.

Factories are slower to compete for lambs lacking flesh, which is leaving a differential of up to €5 to €7 per head between lambs of similar weight.

Store lambs weighing 37kg to 39kg are coming on stream in greater numbers in areas experiencing low grass growth rates, with prices ranging from €87 to €96 and closely aligned to flesh cover.

Cull ewes have also steadied after experiencing a significant price reduction last week.

Large-framed ewes are trading from €105 to €115 on average, with the best-quality lots continuing to secure a €5 to €10 premium.

Medium-sized fleshed ewes are trading from €85 to €95, with good-quality feeding ewes from €60 to a top of €80 to €85 for large-framed lots.

Numbers of ewes with lambs at foot are falling off fast. Good twin-lamb units comprising of young ewes or ewes with a good mouth and strong lambs remain at a price range from €220 to €250, with select lots exceeding this range.

Average-quality lots are selling back to €190 to €210, with poor-quality lots selling back to €150 to €160.

There is also a wide differential for single-lamb lots, with prices ranging from €180 to €210 for good hogget and first-crop ewes with strong lambs.

Average-quality lots are trading from €150 to €170, with only small numbers reported below this range.