The spring lamb trade saw lambs back about €5 each in Kilkenny Mart on Monday, according to the Mart Manager Michael Lynch.

He said factory buyers were not keen to buy spring lambs and some had cut their  prices paid for lambs on Monday, which is likely to impact on the trade in the coming weeks.

However, he said the numbers on offer were quite small, and factory buyers seemed more interested in purchasing hoggets, which continued to meet a good trade.

The best of the spring lambs sold for €135 each, while lambs generally traded from €2.75-2.98/kg, he said.

The hogget trade remained similar to last week, with the numbers on offer remaining small. Butcher hoggets made €2.15-2.55/kg or €120-140/head.

In the ewe ring, cast ewes continued to meet a good trade, with lighter feeding ewes selling from €45 each while heavier ewes sold to a top price of €143/head. Ewes with lambs at foot sold for €140-190.

Raphoe Mart

Further north in Raphoe, Co. Donegal, spring lambs sold to a top price of €140/head on Monday, according to the Mart Manager Anne Harkin.

Spring lambs generally traded from €2.98-3.11/kg, back by about €5-7/head on last week’s levels.

Hogget prices were the on par with last week, with these lots making €120-135 each or €2.14-2.36/kg.

Ewes and lambs continue to remain in demand in the Donegal venue, with ewes with twin lambs sold to a top price of €264, while ewes with single lambs made up to €164. Cast ewes sold from €70-144 each.

Sample prices:
  • Spring lambs 40-50kg: €125-140 each
  • Hoggets: €120-135 each
  • Dry ewes: €70-144 each
  • Ewes with single lambs: €140-164 each
  • Ewes with twin lambs: €190 to €264 each

Mountbellew Mart

There were more spring lambs on offer in Mountbellew Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.

However, despite the increase in numbers, the spring lamb trade remained similar to last week, with lots trading from €2.84-3.00/kg.

“green”]Sample spring lamb prices:
  • 47kg – €137 or €2.91/kg
  • 49kg – €139 or €2.84/kg
  • 42kg – €120 or €2.86/kg
  • 40.5kg – €118 or €2.91/kg
  • 41kg – €123 or €3/kg

Despite the spring lamb trade remaining relatively unchanged, the hogget trade improved sightly due to a shortage of numbers, she said. Hoggets traded from €2.29-2.55/kg.

The cast ewe trade has also improved slightly, she said, due to the brisk trade for these lots. Cast ewes sold from €90-145 each, while many of the heavier fleshed ewes made from €120 and up.

Ewes with lambs at foot also met with a brisk trade,

Sample ewe prices:
  • First crop ewes with twin lambs: €238
  • Second crop ewes with twin lambs: €225
  • Third crop ewes with twin lambs: €210
  • Third crop ewes with single lambs: €160
  • First crop ewes with single lambs: €177