Sheep marts: Heavy lambs top €130-134/head

It was another strong week of trading at sheep marts across the country, with many mart managers reporting price increases for heavy lambs of €1-2/head.

Butchers and wholesalers continue to battle it out for well-fleshed lambs in excess of 50kg, with top prices of €130-134/head being reported at marts over the past seven days.

Factory agents have also been very active with factory lambs still commanding top prices of up to €123-125/head at marts.

In general, factory lambs have been trading from €108/head up to €118-120/head over the past week for lambs weighing 43-46kg, with slightly heavier (47kg), fleshed lambs breaking the €120/head mark in most cases.

Stores continue to be in strong demand, with mart managers reporting that farmers still remain very keen to get hold of stores, particularly ewe lambs.

Forward stores continue to trade for upwards of €105/head and prices of €113/head have been reported for lambs weighing 41-42kg.

Slightly lighter lambs in the 38-39kg weight bracket continue to make from €95/head up to €104-105/head.

Lambs weighing 35-37kg have been regularly selling from €90-95/head, while long-keep stores of lowland breeding continue to sell from €75/head up to €90/head in most cases.

The recent revival in the cull ewe trade continues, with heavy well-fleshed ewes continuing to trade from €120/head up to €130/head, with some cases of ewes making €140/head and more in some places.

Carnew Mart

Carnew Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Thursday last (December 10). A sizeable sale of over 2,700 sheep took place.

According to the mart’s manager, David Quinn, the sheep on offer were met with an excellent selling trade.

Heavy lambs sold up to a top price of €134/head for a pen of lambs weighing 62kg, while factory lambs made up to €123/head for a pen of lambs weighing 48kg.

David noted that there continues to be a strong demand for stores from farmers. Forward stores weighing as much as 41kg sold up to €113/head.

While 35-36kg store lambs sold strongly at €96-104/head. Lastly, cull ewes traded from €75/head for store ewes up to €127/head for well-fleshed ewes.

Roscommon Mart

Roscommon Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Wednesday last (December 9). The mart’s manager, Maura Quigley, reported an increase in the number of sheep presented for sale in comparison to the previous week.

She noted a firm trade and full clearance on the day for both lambs and ewes.

Finished lambs made up to €130/head, while an “excellent quality” pen of ewe lambs suitable for breeding, weighing 63.3kg, sold for €145/head.

Forward store lambs sold up to €109/head for lambs weighing 40.9kg, while lighter long-keep lambs made back to €78/head.

Lastly, cull ewes traded from €20/head for store ewes up to €130/head for heavy ewes.