Sheep trade was on fire in Kilkenny Mart in the blistering heat at today's (Monday, July 13) sheep sale, with not all customers able to fill their requirements on the day.

Commenting on the sale, Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler said: "It's not often said in a sheep sale, but today we ran out of sheep before all customers were able to fill their requirements."

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Candler described the trade as "good and solid for all sheep" with a 100% clearance.

Spring lambs

Spring lambs saw a good trade with prices ranging from €4.00-€4.31/kg or €195-€237/head for butcher and wholesale types.

This was well above last week's range of €3.80-€4.10/kg, indicating the demand for heavier type ewes.

The top call for spring lambs during the sale went for a pen of 17 butcher or wholesale type spring lambs weighing on average 55kg each, and making €237/head, equivalent to €4.31/kg.

This is also the top price/kg for all spring lambs sold on the day.

Below are some sample prices for spring lambs from the sale:

A pen of 16 spring lambs weighing on average 56kg sold for €225/head at €4.02/kg;
A pen of eight spring lambs weighing 53kg on average sold for €223/head or €4.21/kg;
A pen of 10 spring lambs weighing on average 50kg sold for €210/head or €4.20/kg;

A pen of 11 spring lambs weighing on average 52kg sold for 219/head or €4.21/kg;
A pen of 8 spring lambs weighing on average 51kg sold for €215/head or €4.20/kg.

The sheep trade saw lighter spring lambs described as factory types sold for between €3.75-€4.18/kg and €165-€195/head.

The top call went to a pen of 11 spring lambs weighing on average 47kg going for €195 each at €4.15/kg.

This week's trade for lighter factory types held steady with minimal change from last week's range, a positive indicator for farmers of continued demand for factory type lambs.

The top call per kg went to a pen of 13 factory type spring lambs weighing on average 44kg each, for €184/head or €4.18/kg.

Cast ewes saw another strong trade with offers going from between €164 to €310/head. This has increased on last weeks top call of €294/head. There was a very small number of store lambs also present.

Sheep trade

Commenting on the sheep trade, Candler said: "Numbers are staying scarce at least here in Kilkenny with demand outstripping supply."

This comes as the latest quotes from factories for the week are holding steady at €9.00/kg, with a reduction in carcass weights below industry limits, potentially indicating a shortage of heavier lambs.

Kilkenny Mart hosts a sheep market every Monday with the next sale being Monday, July 20.