The first sheep sale of 2025 at Athenry Mart, Co. Galway, took place on Monday, January 6, with over 60 lots of lambs on offer.
There was a 99% clearance rate in the sheep sale with approximately 75% of the lambs on offer averaging over 45kg and over half the lambs weighing over 50kg.
According to the Athenry Mart manager Padraic Fahy, the average price per kilo stood at €4.00/kg for the lots above 50kg, while the maximum price per kilo achieved was €4.24/kg.
Comparing prices at the mart to January 2024, there was an increase of 85c/kg-€1.00/kg on average across the various weight brackets at the first sheep sale of 2025 at the mart.
Sample lamb prices:
- 12 lambs at 39kg sold for €168/head or €4.31/kg;
- Five lambs at 37kg sold for €144/head or €3.89/kg;
- 10 lambs at 44.5kg sold for €180/head or €4.04/kg;
- 20 lambs at 43kg sold for €178/head or €4.14/kg;
- 11 lambs at 49kg sold for €200/head or €4.08/kg;
- 20 lambs at 47kg sold for €197/head or €4.19/kg;
- 20 lambs at 55kg sold for €233/head or €4.24/kg;
- 14 lambs at 53kg sold for €221/head or €4.17/kg.
There was a full clearance of the cull ewes in the sale with the maximum price per kilo achieved being €2.75/kg for a pen of 89kg ewes making €245/head.
The average price per kilo for cull ewes at the Monday sale was €2.35/kg which is an improvement of 70c/kg when compared to prices at the sale in January 2024.
The average cull ewe price/head stood at just over €187 on Monday which was up €53/head or near 40% on January 2024 prices.
Sample cull ewe prices:
- Six ewes at 89kg sold for €245/head or €2.75/kg;
- 10 ewes at 85kg sold for €228/head or €2.68/kg;
- Ewe at 83kg sold for €227/head or €2.73/kg;
- Three ewes at 84.5 sold for €218/head or €2.58/kg;
- Seven ewes at 75kg sold for €184/head or €2.45/kg.
The mart manager said: “It was great to get back after the Christmas break and be met with such a brisk trade.
“We are hopeful that the outlook for the beef and sheep markets will continue to remain positive throughout 2025.
“Our normal sale days will resume next week, with sheep on Monday and cattle on Tuesday. Thursday – as always – will be for calves, runners, cows and weanlings.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone back and continuing to provide the best service we can here in Athenry Mart for 2025.”