Mart managers reported a steady start to the week at sheep sales held yesterday (Monday, January 31), with prices for heavy hoggets topping €160/head in general.

After a turbulent fortnight of prices, with factory cuts trickling down into the mart trade, sheep marts witnessed prices last week recovering to the tune of €3-5/head.

While yesterday, with factory prices moving up 10c/kg on last week, marts reported a very firm trade for hoggets.

In general, prices for finished types ranged from €145/head up to €158/head, with prices in Athenry reaching €160/head for 50kg-plus hoggets.

George Chandler in Kilkenny reported prices for 49kg-plus hoggets to be selling in excess of €150/head up to €158/head, with prices for 44-45kg hoggets falling back to €144-145/head. Prices for cull ewes reached a high of €173/head at Kilkenny Mart.

Over in Ennis Martin McNamara noted a firmer trade, with prices in excess of €3.00/kg more easily achieved compared to the previous week. Prices in Ennis yesterday reached a high of €155/head for 51.5/kg hoggets. Meanwhile, cull ewe prices topped €166/head yesterday at the Clare-based mart.

Mart managers continue to note a firm trade for stores, both short and long-keep types. Despite prices coming back during that period in January, the store trade held relatively strong throughout that and didn't knock confidence, it seems, in finishers.