It appears that despite sheep prices remaining solid in the past few weeks, farmers are still not increasing their numbers at the mart.

There was a solid trade for store and heavy lambs weighing more than 51kg at Kilkenny Mart this week with factory type lambs meeting a slightly easier trade.

However, according to auctioneer George Candler, "this year our breeding ewe sales never took off, which would indicate that very few sheep farmers are increasing numbers, even though prices have remained solid".

The auctioneer said there seems to also be a suggestion that younger farmers are no longer interested in taking on the task when it comes to lambing season.

"If this trend continues, sheep numbers will definitely decline," Candler said.

Kilkenny Mart report

At this week's sale on Monday, October 19 at Kilkenny Mart, trade was described as being "not as vibrant" in the sheep section compared to the previous week for factory lamb.

However store lambs met a good trade as did well fleshed lamb weighing more than 51kg with a top call here of €220.

Some sale purchases of wholesale butcher type spring lambs at this week's sale:

Five lambs weighing 63kg sold for €220/head or €3.49/kg;
34 lambs weighing 56kg sold for €218/head or €3.89/kg;
15 lambs weighing 52kg sold for €195/head or €3.75/kg.

Factory type lambs sold at the sale for between €3.60/kg and €3.85/kg.

Some sample sales in this category are as follows:

10 lambs weighing 49kg sold for €187/head or €3.82/kg;
Eight lambs weighing 46kg sold for €170/head or €3.70/kg;
10 lambs weighing 42kg sold for €161/head or €3.83/kg.

In the store lamb trade, prices reached a high of €146/head.

Some sample purchases in this category included:

15 lambs weighing 39kg sold for €146/head or €3.74/kg;
Five lambs weighing 37kg sold for €138/head or €3.73/kg;
39 lambs weighing 32kg sold for €114/head or €3.56/kg.

Cast ewes at this week's sale made between €125/head and €235/head.

Dairy sale

The dairy sale at Kilkenny this week meanwhile, saw freshly calved Friesian heifers going for prices of between €1,700 and €2,300.

In-calf Friesian heifers born in January or February 2025 sold within a range of €1,520 and €2,040/head.