Sheep marts: First spring lamb of the year makes €190 at Loughrea

Spring lamb has returned to the ring at Loughrea Mart in Co. Galway, where a 48kg lamb made €190 (€3.96/kg).

The sale was held on Thursday, March 7, where it was described as a bigger sale, notable for the first spring lamb of the year, while the general trade is “increasing weekly”.

This was reflected in the prices seen for hoggets at the weekly sale, where many were making over the €190 bracket.

It was factory agents who were keen for the heavy lamb, along with butcher agents online at the sale.

15 hoggets weighing 49kg sold for €170 -(€3.47/kg) Source: Loughrea Co-operative Mart Ltd

Sample hogget prices:

27kg- €82 (€3.04/kg);
39.5kg- €132 (€3.34/kg);
40kg- €130 (€3.25/kg);
41.5kg- €135 (€3.25/kg);
43kg- €159 (€3.70/kg);
48.5kg- €170 (€3.51/kg);
49kg- €170 (€3.47/kg);
52.5kg- €188 (€3.58/kg);
53.5kg- €196 (€3.66/kg);
57.5kg- €199 (€3.46/kg).

At Loughrea Mart, there were smaller numbers in the cull ewe yard, as there were “no fleshed ewes on offer”, but prices for cull ewes ranged from €75-130 on the day.

Hogget and lamb trade at the mart

The upward movement in factory prices in the last month appears not to have stirred the hogget trade at marts thus far.

The trade at marts for heavier type hoggets continues to remain firm, as seen at the sheep sale in Co. Donegal, at Raphoe Mart on Monday, March 4.

There was an improved trade around the ring and online for the sale.

Hoggets sold at:

€80 to €120 for 27-35kgs;
€120 to €150 for 35-42kgs;
€150 to €180 for 43-50kgs;
€180 to €203 for 50-60kgs.

Ewes with one lamb sold from €150/team to €220/team, while ewes with two lambs sold from €250/team to €320/team.

Fat ewes sold from €80/head to €214/head.

While there will be a sheep sale on Monday, March 11, buyers and sellers are reminded of the Easter lamb show and sale that will be held on Monday, March 25 at Raphoe Mart.