This week's sheep trade has seen price lifts for spring lambs, hoggets and cull ewes as demand heats up for all types of factory-fit sheep.

Cull ewe quotes have lifted by as much as 50c/kg since last Monday and at the top-end of the trade, farmers have told Agriland that up to €9.90/kg is available for spring lambs with tops of €9.50/kg available for hoggets and top prices ranging from €5.60-5.90/kg available for cull ewes.

The gap between beef price and hogget/spring lamb price has been narrowing in recent weeks with the surging beef trade but this week's sheep trade price rises sees closer to €10/kg tabled for spring lambs.

This week, Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.50/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs leaving €9.70/kg on offer here up to 21kg carcase weight.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based sheep factory is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets leaving €9.20/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcase weight. ICM is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes this week.

Kepak is quoting €9.70/kg for QA spring lambs up to 21kg carcase weight. The Athleague, Co. Roscommon-based outlet is quoting €8.95/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets and €5.30-5.40/kg for cull ewes.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €9.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs leaving €9.70/kg on offer here up to 20.5kg carcase weight. The outlet is quoting €8.90/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for hoggets leaving €9.00/kg on offer here.

The Kildare-based outlet is quoting €5.60/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus leaving €5.70/kg on offer for cull ewes grading E2, E3 and U2 or U3 from 40-43kg carcase weight.

Regular ewes from 25-35kg carcase weight are being quoted at €5.50/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus leaving €5.60/kg on offer here at Kildare Chilling.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes and €9.00/kg for hoggets.