Factories are moving through numbers, with an increased lamb kill this week.

While prices were steady over the end of last week and the weekend, there has been a little more price pressure in recent days on account of lower factory quotes.

That said, the firm trade for store lambs is helping to place a firm floor under prices.

Difficulties in getting cull ewes slaughtered is starting to have an impact on mart prices, with some mart managers reporting weaker demand for cull ewes in marts as a result.

Prices are reported to be back by a few euro per head as a result.

Feeding ewes are still selling from €60 to €70/head, with fleshed ewes selling mainly from €90 to €110/head, depending on quality, with prices averaging around the €100/head mark.

Heavy butchers’ lambs over 50kg have seen prices rebound slightly in some areas. Prices paid range from €94 to €103/head, with some reports of €106/head being paid for choice lots in some sales.

Factory lambs from 45kg to 50kg are selling mainly from €90 to €95, with some prices of over €95/head being recorded, but these are few and far between. Average prices are steady on last week. Lambs from 42kg to 44kg are ranging mainly from €83 to €87/head, which is similar to last week to slightly improved.

Store lamb prices have steadied once again, with good grass supplies bolstering demand. The average 40kg store is selling mainly from €76 to €82/head, with few making over €83/head this week.

Lighter store lambs from 35kg to 37kg are a stronger trade and are selling mainly from €72 to €78/head depending on quality.