Store lambs have seen an increase in price with more active customers at Kilkenny Mart this week.

This week's sale, which took place yesterday (Monday, October 12) saw a similar trade overall, to last week's showing with perhaps less interest in ram lambs.

According to auctioneer George Candler, the sector "normally gets a boost just before a Muslim festival".

He explained that it was a similar size sale to the previous week with "trade remaining steady for the butcher wholesale type" animals.

"The store lamb saw an increase with more buyer activity. Top call in this sector was €141 for 34kg or €4.15/kg," Candler said.

Meanwhile, cull ewes peaked at €285.

Lamb sale at Kilkenny Mart

Average prices for spring lambs at the mart this week ranged from €3.48-€3.96/kg or €220/head.

Some examples of purchases made on the day for butcher wholesale type spring lambs:

23 lambs weighing 61kg went for €212/head or €3.48/kg;
14 lambs weighing 54kg went for €214/head or €3.96/kg;
15 lambs weighing 50kg went for €196/head or €3.92/kg.

In terms of factory type lambs, some of the sales on the day included:

18 lambs weighing 48kg went for €185/head or €3.85/kg;
12 lambs weighing 45kg went for €169/head or €3.76/kg;
Five lambs weighing 42kg went for €160/head or €3.81/kg.

Store lamb trade

There was a hotter trade for store lamb sales at this week's mart.

Some examples of purchases in this category:

14 lambs weighing 40kg went for €158/head or €3.95/kg;
Nine lambs weighing 34kg went for €141/head or €4.15/kg;
15 lambs weighing 39kg went for €157/head or €4.03/kg.

Cast ewes at this week's sale made €90-€285/head.