Mountbellew Mart in Co. Galway held its weekly sheep sale on Saturday, June 13, where trade held firm relative to the previous week.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Mountbellew mart manager Oliver Noone described the sheep trade as "similar to the previous week with a good turnout of spring lambs".

One pen of 23 spring lambs weighing 46.5kg on average sold for €207/head or €4.45/kg.

A pen of 14 spring lambs weighing 45kg on average sold for €200/head or €4.45/kg.

Another pen of four spring lambs weighing 46kg on average sold for €212/head or €4.61/kg.

He noted that this price range is a good indicator of the strength in demand for quality spring lambs at this time of year.

One pen of 48kg spring lambs sold for €220/head or €4.58/kg;
A 56kg spring lamb sold for €220 or €3.93/kg;

Stag (cull) ewes also saw good demand, while the mart manager noted that the good, heavy ewes saw "a very good trade".

Three ewes weighing 66kg on average sold for €160/head or €2.42/kg.

One ram weighing 100kg sold for €242 or €2.42/kg.

One ewe weighing 98kg made €228 or €2.33/kg, while another pen of three ewes weighing 92kg on average made €248/head or €2.53/kg.

A ewe weighing 99.5kg, made €236 or €2.37/kg, while another pen of seven ewes weighing 119kg sold for €290/head or €2.44/kg.

Breeding sheep also saw good demand, with two ewe hoggets with two lambs at foot selling for €300/outfit.

Good ewes with lambs saw a strong trade, with one first crop ewe with twins making €390. Another first crop ewe with two lambs sold for €370.

The positive trade follows on from the increase in factory quotes to €9.90/kg for quality assured (QA) lambs, after a dip at the beginning of June to €9.70. Farmers will be relieved to see prices holding again this week for QA lambs.

Mountbellew hosts a sheep sale every Saturday with trade beginning at 10:00a.m. There will also be a farm plastic collection at the mart tomorrow (Thursday, June 18).