Sheep marts: Improved trade for finished lambs

Over the past fortnight, there seems to be a bit more life coming back into the finished lamb trade.

Mart managers are reporting an improved trade for these types, as numbers, for heavy lambs, in particular, are ‘tight’.

Butcher lambs have been trading for as much as €120/head over the past seven days. In general, these types have been selling from €107/head up to €117/head.

Factory-fit lambs have been trading for €95/head up to €110/head, in general. Some mart managers noted that farmers have been drafting lambs earlier, which is seeing 41-42kg lambs being snapped up by factory agents.

Moreover, store lambs continue to be a good trade across the board. Forward-type stores over the past week have been trading for between €86/head up to €96/head, with some lots exceeding this price range in places.

Lighter stores below 38kg are selling from €86/head down to as much €50/head for lambs lighter than 20kg.

Cull ewes, in particular heavy ewes, remain a strong trade, with prices in excess of €140/head being achieved in places for well-fleshed ewes.

Overall, heavy ewes have generally been making from €110/head up to €135/head; although, as mentioned already, some ewes have exceeded this price range in some marts.

Enniscorthy Mart

Enniscorthy Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Wednesday last, August 12. On the day, the mart’s annual show and sale of crossbred ewe hoggets and ewe lambs took place, as well as a pedigree ram sale.

In terms of the trade, the assistant mart manager, Kevin Murphy, noted that heavy lambs were scarce, but that there was strong demand for them.

Butcher lambs on the day sold from €107/head up to €117/head, while factory-type lambs, which Kevin noted are being drafted earlier, made from €95/head up to €106/head.

According to Kevin, a large proportion of the sale was made up of store lambs which were an “exceptional trade”, as grass surpluses continue to build, with many farmers who normally buy store cattle opting to buy store lambs.

Lighter stores were €4-7/head dearer, with prices ranging from €75/head up to €87/head.

Forward stores were scarce when compared to their lighter counterparts and made from €87/head up to €96/head.

Turning to the cast ewe trade, Kevin highlighted that both store and heavy ewes continue to be a “great trade”.

Heavy ewes made from €110/head up to €130/head in general, with a top price of €147/head being achieved. Store ewe prices ranged from €75/head up to €100/head.

Dowra Mart

In or around 3,500 sheep went under the hammer at Dowra Mart on Friday last, August 14. According to the mart manager, Terry McGovern, there was a “very strong” trade for all classes of sheep.

Heavy lambs made up to a top price of €118.50/head on the day, with the majority of factory-fit lambs selling from €99/head up to €114/head.

Furthermore, store lambs made anywhere from €60/head up to a top price of €95/head, with some good-quality lots exceeding this price range.

Roscommon Mart

Roscommon Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Wednesday last, August 12. There was a strong entry of sheep on the day.

According to the mart manager, Maura Quigley, there was an improved trade across the board in comparison to the previous week.

Finished lambs made up to €116/head, with these lots, in general, selling from €95/head up to €111/head. Butcher-type lambs sold up to €115/head.

In terms of store lambs, forward-types weighing 41kg made up to €96/head. In the main, lambs weighing between 38kg and 41kg sold from €86/head up to €95/head, with lighter stores weighing 31.8kg making back to €74/head.