With breeding sheep sales easing across the country, the focus for some buyers may now be returning to the store lamb trade in marts.
According to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) sheep chair, Willie Shaw, with the weather conditions facing farmers this year, he has called 2024 “one of the hardest years to get grass to grow”.
Shaw said that this will have “a huge bearing” on the trade for store lambs this year.
While he said that he expected the trade for stores would have “took off” earlier, he said that buyers are currently “cautious to give over the odds for stores” as the prices seen earlier this year may not be repeated.
“You never get two years the same,” he said.
Carnew Mart’s, Eugene Clune said that for those who bought store lambs a month ago, these purchases will “pay them very well”.
“The whole year they have been a great trade. With what store lambs did for men last year, its no wonder they’re a good trade.”
Reflecting on the current trade for ewes, Shaw said: “Ewes have eased, but ewes ease at the end of every summer. They’re still making good money, they’re just not making what they were.
“The price being where it was all summer is after taking some amount of ewes out of the country.”
The ICSA sheep chair commented on the weights of lambs at slaughter, and said that while the lambs may be weighing “okay on the scales,” he said that farmers were finding that their lambs were killing out at 40%, while these producers were normally be reaching up to 45%.
These poor killouts were being put down to the “lack of grass” that did not “have the same power” as in previous years.
Carnew Mart
At the sale on Thursday, September 27 at Carnew Mart there were just over 4,000 sheep in what was described as a much larger sale this week with a full yard of sheep on offer.
All classes of sheep were eagerly sought after leading to an improved price of between €5 – €8.
There was a huge demand for stores with farmers and agents, while wholesalers and factory agents went head to head for the heavy sheep on offer.
Cull ewes were scare in comparison to previous weeks, resulting in an improved trade.
Ennis Mart
The sale on Monday, September 23 at Ennis Mart was reportedly a fine size sheep sale with 741 on offer.
However, the trade was “a shade tougher this week” with prices back 5c/kg on the week, with exception of the top-quality lots.
The good cull ewes held the trade and marginally improved and these made over €2/kg on a number of occasions.
Lambs:
- Seven weighing 59kgs – €183 – €3.10/kg;
- Eight weighing 53kgs – €173 – €3.26/kg;
- 15 weighing 51kgs – €162 – €3.17/kg;
- 11 weighing 48kgs – €156 – €3.25/kg;
- 13 weighing 47kgs – €154 – €3.27/kg;
- 15 weighing 49kgs – €152 – €3.10/kg;
- 12 weighing 46.5kgs – €148 – €3.18/kg.
Store lambs:
- Ten weighing 36kgs – €123 – €3.42/kg;
- Five weighing 30kgs – €90 – €3.00/kg;
- Four weighing 39kgs – €123 – €3.15/kg;
- Ten weighing 37kgs – €111 – €3.00/kg.
Raphoe Livestock Mart
In Co. Donegal, the sheep sale on Monday, September 23 at Raphoe Livestock Mart saw a good entry, with the trade remaining on par with that seen in previous weeks.
Butcher lambs weighing from 48-55kgs sold from €150/head to €175/head, while factory lambs weighing between 44-50kgs sold from €145/head to €160/head.
Variety was seen in the trade for store lambs, with those weighing 40-44kgs selling from €125/head to €145/head.
Store lambs weighing 35-40kgs sold from €110/head to €128/head, while stores at 30-35kgs sold from €85/head to €114/head.
Fat ewes over 80kgs sold from €160/head to €180/head, while fat ewes weighing 60-80kgs sold from €85/head to €150/head.
Blessington Mart
The sale at Blessington Mart in Co. Wicklow on Tuesday, September 24 was reportedly saw a lot of customers for all types of sheep.
There was a better trade for cast ewes, along with a very lively trade for breeding ewes.
Lamb prices
- Heavy lambs- €158 to €166 or €100 to €116 over €/kg;
- Factory lambs- €132 to €158 or €96 to €111 over €/kg;
- Store lambs- €90 to €129 or €64 to €96 over €/kg;
- Suffolk ewe lambs- €130 to €188 or €86 to €140 over €/kg;
- Cheviot ewe lambs- €110 to €178 or €76 to €138 over €/kg.
Ewe prices
- Heavy ewes- €150 to €216 per head;
- Lighter ewes- €60 to €144 per head;
- Suffolk hogget ewes- €220 to €330 per head;
- Suffolk 3/4yr old ewes- €160 to €240 per head;
- Cheviot hogget ewes- €240 to €280 per head;
- Cheviot 3/4yr old ewes €170 to €280 per head.
Maam Cross mart
The most recent sale at Maam Cross mart on Saturday, September 21 saw ram lambs average €2.18/kg to a max of €3.05/kg for six suffolk ram lambs weighing 38kg, hitting €116 each.
The top price per head was €156 for three cheviot ram lambs weighing 55kg.
Ewe lambs averaged €3.02/kg to a max of €3.85/kg for ten blackfaces at 20kg, hitting €77 each. The max price per head was €145 for three suffolk hoggets at 45kg.
Wether lambs averaged €2.13/kg to a max of €3.20/kg for eight Texels at 35kg at €112/head.
Ewe hoggets averaged €3.00/kg to a max of €3.58/kg ten blackfaces ewe hoggets at 39kg selling for €140.