Tullow Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Tuesday (July 21), where the large sale saw 2,630 sheep through the ring, with cast ewes seeing a great trade.

In a mart report issued after the sale, Tullow Mart manager Eric Driver said there was a "steady trade for the heavy fleshed lambs with activity driven by wholesalers".

Factory lambs weighing from 46-50kg on the day sold for between €186-€202/head, butcher lambs from 50kg and up saw prices up to €231/head.

A pen of seven lambs weighing on average 62kg each sold for €218/head at €3.52/kg. Another pen of 12 lambs weighing 50kgs on average sold for €230/head, equivalent to €4.60/kg.

A pen of 11 lambs weighing on average 52kg each sold for €230/head, at €4.42/kg. A pen of nine lambs weighing on average 65kg each sold for €231/head, equivalent to €3.55/kg.

Store lambs weighing between 40-45kg saw prices at the sale from €158-€190/head. Lighter type store lambs sold from €124-€186 for weights between 35-40kg.

40 Suffolk-cross lambs weighing on average 41kg each sold for €172/head, equivalent to €4.20/kg.

40 Cheviot lambs weighing on average 35kg each sold for €139/head, equivalent to €3.97/kg.

A pen of 15 continental lambs weighing on average 39kg each sold for €158/head at €4.05/kg.

Hoggets and ewes

Hoggets in Tullow saw a top call of €340/head with aged ewes selling from €200-€265/head.

Heavy type ewes saw prices from €250-€315/head and a top call per kg of €3.10/kg.

Store ewes ranged from €140-€160 if well fleshed, with ewes weighing between 70-80kg selling up to a top call of €252.00/head.

Cast ewes saw a strong trade, with six cast ewes weighing on average 94kg each selling for €294/head equivalent to €3.13/kg.

Another two cast ewes each weighing 100kg sold for €300/head, or €3.00/kg.

Below are some further sample prices for cast ewes from the sale:

A 105kg cast ewe sold for €314 at €2.99/kg;
Four 98kg cast ewes sold for €296 at €3.02/kg.

Tullow Mart hosts weekly sheep sales, and has seen impressive sales over the last number of weeks.

The mart will be holding its first Sheep Breeders Show and Sale of the year on Wednesday, August 5.

This is expected to attract significant attention as farmers begin planning for another breeding season.