Sheep marts: Heavy lambs remain scarce

Similar to the previous week, mart managers noted that farmers continue to drive the store lamb trade, while heavy lambs remain scarce.

Most mart managers reported that store lambs were a stronger trade once again last week, while there were some reports of a slight drop off in prices of €1-2/head in places. However, farmer interest for stores remains “very strong” all round.

Lighter store lambs, weighing 30-38kg, generally made from €77/head up to €88/head, while light, plainer-quality lambs made from €60/head up to €75/head.

In general, butcher lambs traded from €112/head up to €119/head, with select lots breaking past the €120/head mark in places.

Cast ewes continue to remain a solid trade and, in the main, heavy ewes made from €100/head up to €130/head.

Feeding ewes generally sold from €50/head for light cull ewes up to the €90-100/head mark for more forward-type store ewes.

Dowra Mart

Over 3,800 sheep were sold at Dowra Mart on Friday last (August 28). According to the mart manager, Terry McGovern, there was, once again, a strong trade across the board.

Butcher lambs made up to €119/head, while factory-fit lambs sold from €100/head up to €115/head.

Forward store lambs made from €95/head up to the €100/head mark, while slightly lighter lambs weighing from 34kg up to 37kg traded from €85/head up to €95/head.

Furthermore, lighter store lambs, consisting of both mountain and lowland-types, traded from €60/head up to €80/head.

Baltinglass Mart

Baltinglass Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Saturday last (August 29).

There was an improved trade on the day, according to the mart manager, Tom Coleman, with both factory and store lambs a stronger trade in comparison to the previous week.

Factory-finished lambs were €3-5/head dearer and prices for these lots ranged from €100/head up to €108/head mainly, with some lots lacking flesh making as far back as €97/head.

Forward store lambs weighing from 39kg up to 41kg sold from €89/head up to €95/head.

Furthermore, stores weighing from 29kg up to 38kg made from €74/head up to €93/head.

Tom reported that lighter lambs were at least €5-7/head stronger than the previous week.

Roscommon Mart

Once again, an improved trade was reported at Roscommon Mart on Wednesday last (August 26).

Butcher lambs traded from €112/head up to a tops of €117/head, while factory-fit lambs made from €100/head up to €114/head.

Forward-store lambs weighing anywhere from 39kg up to 42kg sold from €95/head up to €100/head.

Lighter store lambs made from as low as €78/head up to as much as €94/head.

Cast ewes, both store and heavy ewes, traded from €50/head up to a tops of €119/head.