The mart sheep trade has made up the ground it lost last week with prices up €1-3/head across the board for lambs. The sales ring has return to normal following the bank holiday weekend.

Sheep were a flying trade in New Ross on Saturday reported the Mart Manager Richard Kirwan. He said that lots were up by €3/head across the board.

There was good demand for factory lambs, with these lots selling for €93-101/head or €2.16-2.34/kg, he said.

The heavier butcher type lots made €103-111/head or €2.06-2.22/kg.

There was also a firm demand for store lambs with farmers paying €70-92/head or €42-52 over.

Kirwan added that feeder type cast ewes sold for €62-100/head while the hammer fell on their heavier counterparts for €100-134/head.

Elphin mart reported that lambs were up €1-1.50 on last week’s prices on Monday. Gerry Connellan said that the trade was a bit firmer then last week and that the trade was good.

Factory lambs sold for €2.04-2.18/kg at the Roscommon venue while the heavier butcher type lambs struggled to make €2/kg and sold for €1.79-1.94/kg.

Store lambs also remained in strong demand with the hammer falling on lots at €1.97-2.16/kg, he said.

He added that there was a small number of hogget ewes on offer and these sold from €142-165/head, while cast ewes ranged from €88.50-119/head.

There was also a good trade in Headford on Saturday reported Joe Wynne. The Mart Manager said that trade was strong across all lots with prices slightly up on the previous week.

There was a large selection of hogget ewes with over 800 on offer and lots sold from €158-190/head, while top quality ewe lambs sold from €88/head to a tops of €132/head.

Lambs also were in good demand in the Galway venue with the hammer falling on factory type lots from €87-102/head while the butcher lots sold from €95-105.

He added that feeder type cast ewes sold from €55-100 while the breeding ewes on offer sold from €110-168.

There were 2,400 sheep on offer in Kenmare mart on Monday and the Mart Manager said that there was a cracking trade.

Dan McCarthy said that butcher type lambs generally made €2/kg while the factory lots made €2.00-2.32/kg.

He added that low land store lambs made €2.08-2.23/kg while the mountain type lots sold from €1.55-1.96/kg.

Scotch type hogget ewes sold from €95-107/head while Texel cross hogget ewes sold from €135-140.

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