Marts

1 KILKENNY

George Candler says that his trade yesterday was affected by recent factory price pulls. “The reduction in the lamb quotes by factories meant that buyers were less active than other weeks with lambs peaking at €133 compared to €139 last week,” he said. The scarcity of grass was also a contributing factor, he added. Prices for butcher’s lambs ranged from €2.40-2.53/kg with factory lambs making from €2.40-2.50/kg. Store lambs sold from €2.00-2.36/kg or €70-80/hd while cast ewes hit a top of €148/hd in what George described as “a solid trade”.

2 MOUNTBELLEW

There were larger numbers here than previously, with lamb prices reported as being easier. Samples included 15 lambs at 42kg making €98/hd, 10 at 41.5kg making €95/ hd, while in 39-39.5kg, lambs sold from €90-92/hd. Samples of heavier 48.5-54.5kg lambs saw prices ranged from €111-120/hd. Store lambs made from €72-93/hd. There were similar numbers of stag ewes on offer to the previous week, with prices ranging €78-135/hd.

3 BALTINGLASS

The fact this was a special lamb sale was probably a help to prices here as lambs were reported as being better by between €2-5/hd. Lambs over 45kg sold from €120- 145/hd with that top price going to a lot of 16 at 50kg. In the 40-45kg section, prices ranged from €105120/hd. Store lambs from 35-40kg made from €80-100/hd.

4 ATHENRY

There was a good sale of sheep, and despite prices for lambs easing by about €2.00/hd, the general feeling about the trade was positive. Light lamb from 42-44kg sold from €105-115/hd with heavier 47-52kg lambs selling from €117-122/hd. The general run of cull ewe prices was from €90-130/hd with one batch hitting over the bar at €135/hd.

5 RAPHOE

There was a good entry of sheep here yesterday with the trade being reported as lively. Lambs sold from €80-90/hd for 32-36kg with 36-40kg making from €90-100/hd. Prices from 40-43kg ranged from €100-110/hd while those in the 4348kg bracket made from €110-118/ hd. Heavier lambs up to 55kg saw a top call of 125/hd. Fat ewes made from €70-132/hd.

6 HEADFORD

The lamb trade here saw prices range from €89-110/hd or €2.372.53/kg. Sample prices included 45.5kg at €110/hd, 43.5kg at €109/ hd and 37.5kg, who sold for €89/ hd. Among the breeding sheep ewes with lambs at foot saw a top call of €240/hd.