An easier trade for cull ewes, particularly heavy and very light store ewes, was seen at sales held last week.

Despite factories' efforts to pull prices for spring lambs and hoggets last week, the trade for both held firm, with top prices reaching €180/head at many sales for well-fleshed sheep.

Looking at the cull ewe trade first, the high prices of €190-200/head and above in some cases were long gone last week, with many of those 100kg plus ewes coming into €180/head at most.

The majority of those fleshed 90kg plus ewes sold to top price of €160-180/head, with the general run of prices for those fleshed ewes going from €135/head up to €160/head.

80-89kg ewes were generally trading from €100/head up to €130-135/head.

Turning to spring lambs, top prices for 46kg plus lambs ranged from €155-170/head, with 50kg plus lambs making up to highs of €180-185/head in places.

40-45kg lambs have been selling from generally €140/head up to €160/head, with exceptional lots making as high as €170/head - as seen at Enniscorthy Mart last week.

Light store spring lambs weighing back as much 30kg generally started from €90-100/head, and made up to €130-140/head.

The hogget trade remained strong for the remaining few that are still going through mart rings. Numbers at sales have really been dwindling the past few weeks, with quality extremely variable.

Although, the good-quality hoggets coming through the rings, they are still making upwards of €170/head and up as high as €180/head for top-quality lots, which are typically ewe hoggets.

The majority of those well-fleshed hoggets were generally trading from €150-170/head.

Lastly, the trade for ewes with lambs at foot remains unchanged. Aged ewes with single lambs at foot made from €130/unit, up to generally €220-235/unit for younger ewes.

Ewes with twin lambs at foot generally have been selling from €190/unit up to €260/unit, with top-quaility lots making up to €300/unit and more in cases.

2,315 sheep were on offer at Carnew Mart on Thursday last (April 22).

Ther mart's manager, David Quinn, reported an excellent selling trade, with lambs and hoggets selling to a high of €185.

However, on the other hand, he noted an easier trade for cull ewes, but still a very good trade overall.

Heavy cull ewes made from €138/head, up to a top of €168/head. Lighter ewes sold from €70/head up to €128/head.

Once again, a solid trade was seen for ewes with lambs at foot. Ewes with single lambs exchanged hands from €170/unit up, to a tops of €265/unit.

While ewes with twin lambs at foot sold from €220/unit up to €285/unit.

Sample spring lamb prices:

Sample hogget prices: