The spring lamb trade has started off strong this week, with a few special spring lamb sales across the country.

Raphoe Livestock Mart had a big entry of spring lambs, with good demand from local butchers and wholesalers.

The sale was held 100% online on www.martbids.ie.

Mart manager Ann Harkin said: “Trade was very brisk, with unbelievable demand from buyers for quality spring lamb.

"We had over 120 spring lambs, which was a very big entry, and there was a 100% clearance."

A lot of lambs in the 45kg to 50kg weight bracket crossed €200/head.

This pair of first-prizewinning Texel-cross lambs weighed 50kg and were sold for €282/head.

Topping the trade was a pair of 50kg Texel-cross lambs from local man Johnny Gibbons.

Clonmany butcher William Doherty was the successful purchaser at €282/head.

This pair of second-prizewinning Suffolk-cross lambs weighed 47.5kg and sold for €278/head.

Next highest price went to Donal Mullaney for his pair of Suffolk-cross lambs. They weighed 47.5 kg and were knocked down to McCarron Butchers in Raphoe at €278/head.

McCarron Butchers also secured the third-prizewinning pair of Texel lambs from John Gallagher.

This pair of 47.5kg Texel-cross spring lambs sold for €240/head.

They weighed 47.5kg and were knocked down at €240/head.

Factory quotes for spring lamb are solid, with opening quotes of €7.70/kg to €7.90/kg, with strong sellers getting €8.00/kg to €8.10/kg.

There was also big demand from factory agents for finished hoggets.

The hogget trade topped out at €180/head for 58kg hoggets.

Ewes with lambs at foot also met big demand, with a top price of €370 for a ewe with two lambs.