Tuam Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Tuesday last (September 8), which saw the sale of lambs, cast ewes and breeding hoggets.

Both yards were packed with sheep. Lambs and cast ewes were sold in the sheep yard, while breeding sheep were sold in the cattle yard.

There was an abundance of buyers on the day and this led to a very lively trade, with ewe lambs, butcher/factory lambs and hoggets in high demand.

Starting with butcher lambs, prices for these lots regularly hit past the €110/head mark and prices of up to €116/head were achieved.

Factory lambs were also in high demand. Prices between €98/head and €113/head were roughly exchanged for factory-fit lambs.

Ewe lambs were the standout trade on the night, particularly lambs weighing in excess of 50kg, which sold up to €157/head.

In general, ewe lambs made from €90/head up to €150/head, with some lots, as mentioned above, breaking past the €150/head mark and topping out at €157/head.

Store lambs were also a good trade on the night, with little to no lots going unsold.

In general, prices for store lambs ranged from €70/head up to €92/head for more forward-type stores, with some lost exceeding this price range and making north of €95/head.

Finally, in term of hoggets, prices for these lots ranged from €170/head up to €200/head mainly, with a couple of exceptional lots of hoggets making upwards of €200/head and topping out at €232/head.

Auctioneer Pat Burke said that good-quality hoggets have been an “easy sell” over the last few weeks and that was the same story on Tuesday evening.

He said: “Farmers are keen to get a hold of top-quality stock and that is being reflected in the prices being paid out. Very few hoggets sold for less than €160/head on Tuesday evening.

“Nice-quality hoggets made, and have been making, over the last few weeks, from €170/head up to €200/head.”