The positivity around the sheep trade continues, as prices continue to march forward at both factory and mart level.
Looking at factory fares, spring lamb prices have pushed on once again from even the start of this week, with top prices towards the end of this week hitting €8.20/kg.
Similarly, the hogget trade continues to march forward after a slight lull, with top prices at the tail end of this week pushing north of €7.50/kg and reaching as high as €7.80/kg.
The ewe trade remained much the same since the start of the week, with prices at the top end of the market still ranging from €3.30/kg up to €3.50/kg.
Mart trade at a glimpse
A booming mart trade continues to be seen, with hogget and ewe prices continuing to strengthen at sales.
Although, spring lambs haven’t been hitting the highs seen at sales last week, which is normal considering we are just after Easter, but the trade remains strong with prices still topping €180-190.
Hogget prices have improved again this week, with many 50kg plus hoggets reaching highs of €180-185. Prices like these are seen for ewe hoggets, or extremely well-fed heavy hoggets with an excellent flesh cover.
Many good-quality hoggets continue to move at prices of €170-179.
Supplies are very tight and farmers are very much battling for ewe hoggets at sales with breeding potential.
Similarly, the cull ewe trade continues to amaze, with prices at some sales this week breaching €200, as seen at Athenry on Monday, where a 113kg ewe came in at €212.
Although, many of those fleshed ewes in excess of 90kg continue to sell from €140 up to €190.
Ewes with lambs at foot remains a solid trade. Ewes with strong single lambs at foot continue to make up to €190-200/unit and as far as €220-225/unit in cases.
While ewes with two lambs at foot have been making up to highs of €280-320/unit, with isolated reports of some making up to €330-350/unit.