Mid-Kerry Co-Operative Mart held its weekly sheep sale in Milltown Mart on Tuesday (July 14), where sheep met a strong trade with around 500 sheep through the ring.

In a report on the sale, the mart described the trade as "strong for all types of sheep".

The sale was smaller than previous weeks, which was put down to the exceptionally warm weather.

Some exceptional prices for small store lambs were seen at the sale.

A pen of three ewe lambs broke the €5.00/kg mark on the day. They weighed 27kg on average and sold for €137/head, making an impressive €5.01/kg.

Another impressive sale was a pen of 10 light store ewe lambs, also weighing 27kg on average, that sold for €135/head or €4.96/kg.

These sheep were described as "lovely little lambs", showing the emphasis on physical appearance of the sheep when buying.

Ram lambs also saw a strong trade, with a pen of three lambs weighing 29kg on average selling for €138/head at €4.71/kg.

Another pen of three Texel ram lambs weighing 28kg on average sold for €136/head at €4.71/kg.

Below are some further sample prices for ram lambs from the sale:

A 29kg Texel ram lamb sold for €137 or €4.72/kg;
A pen of ine 29kg ram lambs sold for €129/head or €4.35/kg;
A pen of six 32kg ram lambs sold for €145/head or €4.43/kg.

There was also a selection of wether (or castrated) lambs on sale. The top call went to a large pen with 15 wether lambs weighing 29kg on average selling for €134/head or €4.60/kg.

Another pen of three heavier wether lambs weighing 49kg each, sold for €208/head or €4.24/kg.

There was also strong trade in ewes on the day, some with lambs at foot.

A pen of two ewes and four lambs at foot sold for €265, while a hogget ewe with a lamb at foot sold for €295.

Dry ewes also went through the ring. Two dry ewes weighing 56kg on average sold for €124/head at €2.21/kg. A 94kg dry ewe sold for €236 or €2.51/kg.

A pen of four dry ewes weighing on average 42kg sold for €138 at €3.29/kg.

Mid-Kerry Co-Op mart will host its next sheep trade on Tuesday, July 21.

Carrigallen Mart

Golden Vale Co-Operative Marts held its weekly sheep sale on Monday, July 13, in Carrigallen Mart, Co. Leitrim.

Factory lambs saw another week of strong trade, off the back of factories announcing that lamb prices are back around the €9.00/kg mark.

A pen of five cull ewes weighing on average 96.8kg each sold for €274/head or €2.83/kg.

A large lot of 14 factory lambs weighing on average 45.86kg each, sold for €193/head or €4.21/kg.

Some further sample prices include the following:

A pen of six factory lambs weighing on average 46.33kg sold for €195/head or €4.21/kg;
A pen of eight factory lambs weighing on average 46kg sold for €197/head or €4.28/kg;
A pen of eight factory lambs weighing on average 46.28kg sold for €199/head or €4.30/kg.