Heavy butcher lambs continue to sell well across marts, along with factory and store lambs. Looking at sheep sales that took place earlier this week, heavy lambs continue to sell well in excess of €120/head.

Ennis and Kilkenny marts reported strong sales at their weekly sheep sales. Numbers at both marts were small, which seems to be helping the trade of late.

Also Read: Sheep mart trade 2019 vs. 2020: Heavy lambs dearer by more than €20/head in cases

Ennis Mart

A similar number of sheep (400) to last week were presented for sale at Ennis Mart on Monday (November 24).

Top lots attracted very strong interest, according to a spokesperson for the mart, with a top call of €139/head being paid out for a pen of 12 butcher lambs weighing 52kg.

The trade was very much similar to the previous week, with lambs in excess of 50kg selling for €124-130/head.

Cull ewes made from €67/head for feeding ewes up to €115/head for heavy ewes.

Sample lamb prices: 

  • 12 lambs weighing 52kg sold for €139/head or €2.65/kg;
  • Six lambs weighing 54kg sold for €130/head or €2.41/kg;
  • Six lambs weighing 52kg sold for €130/head or €2.50/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 47kg sold for €122/head or €2.60/kg;
  • 13 lambs weighing 47.5kg sold for €117/head or €2.46/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 48kg sold for €121/head or €2.52/kg;
  • 11 lambs weighing 49kg sold for €124/head or €2.53/kg.

Kilkenny Mart

Kilkenny Mart’s auctioneer, George Candler, reported an “excellent trade” for sheep at Monday’s sale.

Lambs sold up to €129/head for butcher types. Prices of between €123/head and €127/head were achieved for lambs in excess of 50kg.

Sample butcher lamb prices: 

  • 13 lambs weighing 57kg sold for €127/head or €2.23/kg;
  • 24 lambs weighing 56kg sold for €127/head or €2.23/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 54kg sold for €127/head or €2.35/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 52kg sold for €126/head or €2.42/kg;
  • Eight lambs weighing 51kg sold for €125/head or €2.45/kg;
  • 20 lambs weighing 50kg sold for €123/head or €2.46/kg.

Factory lambs on the day sold from €105/head up to €121/head or from €2.40/kg up to €2.52/kg.

Sample factory lamb prices: 

  • 10 lambs weighing 48kg sold for €121/head or €2.52/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 47kg sold for €118/head or €2.51/kg;
  • Eight lambs weighing 46kg sold for €114/head or €2.48/kg;
  • Eight lambs weighing 45kg sold for €111/head or €2.47/kg;
  • 11 lambs weighing 44kg sold for €106/head or €2.41/kg;
  • 25 lambs weighing 43kg sold for €105/head or €2.44/kg.

Lastly, store lambs made from €75/head for lighter lambs up to €101/head for forward types.

Sample store lamb prices:

  • 23 lambs weighing 40kg sold for €101/head or €2.53/kg;
  • 19 lambs weighing 37kg sold for €94/head or €2.54/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 36kg sold for €89/head or €2.47/kg;
  • 16 lambs weighing 34kg sold for €87/head or €2,56/kg;
  • 10 lambs weighing 32kg sold for €80/head or €2.50/kg;
  • Eight lambs weighing 30kg sold for €76/head or €2.53/kg.