The trade for ewes and lambs has improved over the last couple of weeks, according to the Mart Manager of Baltinglass Mart, Joe Kinsella.
Speaking to Agriland, Kinsella said that ewes and lambs have improved by €20-30 over the past two weeks, with ewes with twin lambs selling for €240-250 each on Saturday’s sale day.
The majority of this increase, he said, comes following a rise in demand from farmers, as grass growth has really kicked off on farms over the past few weeks.
However, he said that due to the difficult and wet spring, which dampened the trade, prices are still back by €30-40 on last year, when two and three year old ewes with twin lambs at foot made €270-300.
Kinsella continued to say that the trade for first crop ewes has also improved, with hoggets with single lambs making €120-130. Similar type lots made €100-110 during April.
Further north, ewes with lambs at foot also met a brisk trade in Mountbellew Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.
Higgins said that ewes with single lambs sold from €138, while ewes with twin lambs sold to a top price of €221.
There was a sharper trade for spring lambs in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill on Monday, despite the lower factory quotes, according to the Mart Auctioneer George Candler.
Candler said that spring lambs sold to a top price of €131/head or €2.40-2.55/kg, up €11/head on the previous week’s sale.
There was also some improvement in the hogget trade, with lots selling from €1.90-2.55/kg, in last week’s sale these lots made €1.75-2.00/kg. There was a larger number of sheep on offer in Mountbellew Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.
She said that lambs were a slightly easier trade than the previous week making €2.41-2.58/kg, but there was good demand for ewe hoggets which traded from €108-146.
Higgins also said that cast ewes remained in good demand and sold from €80-116 each.
The spring lamb trade was a little easier in Carnew Mart on Thursday, according to the Mart Manager David Quinn.
Quinn said that spring lamb prices had eased by €5/head, but the trade remained steady for all other classes.
Spring lambs weighing over 40kg made €98-119, while lighter lambs under 40kg traded at €86-98 each. The butchers hoggets on offer sold from €108-122.
Looking at the ewe trade, Quinn said ewes with lambs improved on last week’s sale. Ewes with single lambs made €140-215 and ewes with twins sold at €185-245. Cast ewes met with a similar trade to last week, trading from €65-127/head.
Mart Trade Roundup
Kilkenny Mart
Mountbellew Mart
Carnew Mart