It has been a mixed couple of weeks for sheep farmers. The Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, which ran from Monday 11 August to Thursday 15 August, provided sheep farmers in the east of the country with a significant boost in demand.

Prices increased by 10c/kg to 15c/kg with returns ranging from €4.75/kg to €4.95/kg.

In contrast, farmers in the west are this week being met with an overhang of lambs in the market with only small numbers processed in Dawn Ballyhaunis and Kepak Athleague.

Quotes for Thursday have also being pulled nationwide by 5c/kg to 10c/kg.

Store lambs

Meanwhile, the store lamb and cull ewe trade remains solid and buoyed by positive grass supplies. Store lambs weighing 30kg to 35kg are trading from €70 to €76 on average with lambs weighing 37kg to 42kg selling on average from €77 to €88.

There is strong demand in general sheep sales for ewe lambs with lambs with breeding potential securing a €5 to €15 premium.

Ewe lambs in specialised sales are also meeting a sharp trade with prices for 43kg to 50kg lambs ranging from €110 to €130 and as high as €150.

While there is good demand for hoggets, buyers are reluctant so far to pay higher prices with the general run ranging between €150 and €180, while top-quality lots are rising to €200.