Kilkenny Mart held its weekly ewe and lamb sale on Monday (June 29), where 300 sheep went through the ring with numbers down on previous weeks.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Kilkenny mart auctioneer George Candler described the sale as "sharper" across the board will all lots seeing a good trade.

This will be welcome news for the mart, as the previous week's price fall had sparked fears that the sheep trade may have been entering a downward price spiral.

Spring lambs saw a good trade, with lambs seeing prices up by €3-€8/head compared to last week's trade.

Heavier type spring lambs suitable for wholesalers or butchers made good returns for farmers. The top price on the day for butcher-type lambs was €245 paid for a 65kg lamb making €3.77/kg.

Sample prices for good heavier spring lambs include:

Three spring lambs weighing on average 60kg each made €232/head or €3.87/kg;
Six spring lambs weighing on average 57kg each made €238/head or €4.18/kg;
10 spring lambs weighing on average 53kg each made €227/head or €4.28/kg;
Five spring lambs weighing on average 52kg each made €200/head or €3.85/kg.

Factory-type lambs also saw a strong trade with the top prices around the €197 mark for a 46kg lamb at €4.28/kg.

The current good quotes from the factories are benefitting farmers, which is a positive indicator for the sheep trade.

A pen of six factory-type lambs weighing on average 48kg each made €198/head or €4.13/kg, while another pen of five factory-type lambs weighing on average 47kg each made €195/head or €4.15/kg.

Another pen of 11 factory-type lambs weighing on average 44kg each made €165/head or €3.75/kg.

A pen of eight factory-type lambs weighing on average 41kg each made €177/head or €4.32/kg.

Store lamb sample prices include:

Eight lambs weighing on average 40kg each made €147/head or €3.68/kg;
Six lambs weighing on average 38kg each made €144/head or €3.79/kg;
Seven lambs weighing on average 35kg each made €138/head or €3.94/kg;
Six lambs weighing on average 30kg each made €110/head or €3.67/kg.

Cast ewes saw prices range from €70 up to €255 per head for good quality cull ewes. These are in line with last week's offers, showing stability within the trade.

The price recovery this week has not been confined to Kilkenny with several marts that Agriland spoke to reporting a positive sheep trade, helped by strong factory quotes and good grazing conditions.