The lamb trade eased slightly over the bank holiday weekend, while the number of sheep passing through the ring remained steady.
Despite it being a bank holiday, there was a good entry of lambs in Raphoe Mart in Co. Donegal on Monday, according to the Mart Manager Anne Harkin.
There was close to 1,600 sheep on offer in the Co. Donegal venue, with the majority of them being lambs.
Lambs ranging in weight from 47-58kg sold from €99-119, while lighter lots weighing between 34-46kg made €70-90.
Meanwhile, trade for cast ewes remained steady with prices ranging from €45-95, while the hogget ewes on offer traded from €100-176/head, Harkin said.
Close to 500 lambs unsold at Mountbellew Mart
Close to 500 lambs went home unsold from Mountbellew Mart on Saturday on the back of a falling trade, according to the Marts Michael Walsh.
The sale consisted of 1,800 sheep, Walsh said, with numbers slightly down on previous week’s sales.
The lamb trade was also down on the previous week by as much as €3-4/head, he said, with lambs generally selling from €1.95-2..40/kg.
Meanwhile, the number of cast ewes remained similar to the previous week, but the trade for these lots improved with prices ranging from €70-100 each.
- 15 ewe lambs 42kg – €85.50 – €2.04/kg.
- Five ram lambs 48kg – €94 – €1.96/kg.
- 13 texel cross quality ewe lambs 50kg – €120 – €2.40/kg.
- 10 weather lambs 40kg – €77.50 – €1.95/kg.
- 13 weather lambs 47kg – €91.50 – €1.95/kg.
- 10 ewe lambs 47.50kg – €105 – €2.21/kg.
Fewer numbers in Kilkenny Mart due to the bank holiday
Close to 400 sheep went under the hammer in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill on Tuesday, according to the Mart Manager Michael Lynch.
Generally sales would be closer to the 800 mark, but Lynch placed the blame on the bank holiday for the low turnout.
Despite the lower number of sheep on offer, the trade for lambs remained steady, he said, with plenty of interest from farmer buyers.
Lambs weighing 40-50kg ranged in price from €87-96, while the heavier lots weighing between 50-60kg traded from €100-111 in the Co. Kilkenny venue.
- 11 lambs at 45kg – €96 – €2.06/kg.
- Nine lambs at 47kg – €96 – €2.04/kg.
- 25 lambs at 55kg – €111 – €2.02/kg.
Lynch also said there were very few store lambs on offer in Tuesday’s sale, while the number of breeding ewes were also down on previous week’s sales.
Meanwhile, there was a small number of cast ewes for sale and prices for these lots ranged from €70-100 each.