It feels like we are back in March of this year when tender and online selling was how buyers and sellers were exchanging stock across the country.
Since Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions were imposed nearly two weeks ago, farmers had to once again leave the comforts of the mart ring and go back to selling their stock either online or through a tender system.
Many marts that operated a tender system during the last lockdown have now gone down the route of selling online, having seen first-hand the problems and heartache that a tender system can cause.
Looking at the trade over the past week, numbers seem to be down across marts, as sellers weigh up how the trade pans out in light of the new restrictions which means buyers can no longer bid around the ring/pen.
Also Read: Sheep farmers 'severely disadvantaged' with online mart sales - ICSAHeavy lambs, which remain in small supply, continue to trade well, as factory prices remain steady. Prices in excess of €120/head for well-fleshed, butcher lambs have been reported over the past week.
In general, prices for these lots have been selling from €111/head up to €120/head, with select lots making €122-124/head.
Factory-fit lambs have generally been making from as low as €98/head up to a tops of €114/head for well-presented, nicely-fleshed lambs.
Lighter, lowland-type lambs, in the 34-37kg bracket, are making from €80-90/head, while lambs weighing 34kg and less are trading from as low as €50/head for crossbred and mountain-types up to the €70-80/head mark for better lowland-type lambs.
The cull ewe trade also remains firm, with heavy fleshed ewes continuing to sell up to €120-125/head, with select lots hitting the €130/head mark. Heavy ewes have been generally starting out at the €100-105/head mark.
Feeding ewes, over the past week, have been trading for as little as €40/head for mountain-types up to €80-90/head for more forward feeding-type ewes.
The number of breeding sheep on offer at marts over the past week has been small, with the trade also dipping for these types.
Baltinglass Mart
Baltinglass Mart held its weekly sheep sale on Saturday last (October 31). According to the mart manager, Tom Coleman, there was a very brisk online selling trade for all types of sheep on the day.
He added that store lambs were improved by €3-4/head, especially for the more quality stores weighing between 36kg and 42kg.
On the other hand, heavy butcher lambs and factory-type lambs were a similar trade to the previous week.
Butcher lambs made up to a tops of €111/head, while factory-fit lambs sold up to €108/head.
Sample butcher and factory-fit lamb prices:
- Two lambs weighing 50kg sold for €111/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 50kg sold for €109/head;
- Five lambs weighing 45kg sold for €108/head;
- Eight lambs weighing 48kg sold for €107/head;
- 30 lambs weighing 43kg sold for €107/head.
A strong entry of ewe lambs were also presented for sale on the day and prices for these lots ranged from €99/head up to €110/head for lambs weighing between 35kg and 50kg.
Sample ewe lamb prices:
- 12 lambs weighing 35kg sold for €110/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 50kg sold for €109/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 43kg sold for €105/head;
- 14 lambs weighing 40kg sold for €104/head;
- 32 lambs weighing 44kg sold for €102/head;
- Two lambs weighing 45kg sold for €100/head;
- 32 lambs weighing 43kg sold for €99/head.
Stores sold from €54/head for lambs weighing 20kg up to a tops of €99/head for forward store lambs weighing 41kg.
Sample store lamb prices:
- 30 lambs weighing 41kg sold for €99/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 37kg sold for €98/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 38kg sold for €96/head;
- Four lambs weighing 35kg sold for €88/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 38kg sold for €95/head;
- 20 lambs weighing 31kg sold for €76/head;
- 24 lambs weighing 27kg sold for €69/head;
- 12 lambs weighing 20kg sold for €54/head.
Cull ewes sold from €60/head for feeding types up to €120/head for heavier lots, while a small selection of breeding ewes topped out at €150/head.
Kilkenny Mart
420 sheep were presented for sale at Kilkenny Mart yesterday, Monday (November 2). According to the mart’s auctioneer, George Candler, the trade was good, with lambs topping out at €121/head.
Cull ewes made from €74/head for feeding types up to €125/head for heavy, well-fleshed ewes.
Butcher lambs on the day made from €2.18/kg up to €2.29/kg. Prices for these lots started out at €115/head and peaked at €121/head.
Sample butcher lamb prices:
- 15 lambs weighing 55kg sold for €120/head;
- Eight lambs weighing 54kg sold for €121/head;
- 14 lambs weighing 53kg sold for €119/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 51kg sold for €117/head.
Factory-type lambs made from €2.15/kg up to €2.61/kg. On the day, factory-finished lambs made from €98/head up to €114/head.
Sample factory-fit lamb prices:
- 10 lambs weighing 47kg sold for €114/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 45kg sold for €108/head;
- Eight lambs weighing 43kg sold for €103/head;
- 12 lambs weighing 43kg sold for €108/head.
Store lambs continue to be a good trade, according to George. Prices for these types ranged from €82/head up to €96/head (€2.15/kg up to €€2.61/kg).
Sample store lamb prices:
- Seven lambs weighing 41kg sold for €96/head;
- 12 lambs weighing 39kg sold for €85/head;
- 15 lambs weighing 36kg sold for €84/head;
- 10 lambs weighing 35kg sold for €84/head.