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Cull ewes are meeting a very lively trade in the marts. Demand has been steadily increasing over the last three weeks and it has intensified in sales more recently.
Factory agents, particularly in the west, seem to have more firepower behind them for ewes and large fleshed lots are meeting the strongest trade.
Large-framed ewes with very good flesh cover are selling from €115 to €130/head. Medium-sized ewes with a nice cover of flesh are selling from €100 to €115/head. Short-keep lowland-bred ewes in need of further feeding are selling from €80 to €90/head. Prices for lighter lowland-bred ewes start at €60/head.
Hogget prices
A steady trade for hoggets continues and prices are holding at last week’s levels. Hoggets weighing 47kg to 50kg are selling for €102 to €116/head, or €55 to €66 over the weight. There is slight variation in the price reports coming back from mart managers, with some more positive than others.
The quality of hoggets coming out is becoming more variable as tail-end lots begin to make an appearance. This is having an effect on prices, causing some variation in end-price for similar-weight lots. Heavier hoggets weighing 50kg-plus are making €110 to €120/head. The €120/head line is being breached where butcher activity is strong.
Ewes with lambs at foot
More ewes with lambs at foot are appearing in sales. Aged ewes with singles are selling from €115 to €150/unit (the higher prices paid relates to the age of lambs sold). Ewes with two lambs are making €170/unit for aged lots to €215/unit for young ewes with multiple lambs at foot.
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