Easter falling three weeks later than 2016 has resulted in far more lambs coming on stream for the Easter market. Raphoe Mart in Donegal held a special spring lamb show and sale on Monday of this week. The entry exceeded expectations with over 500 spring lambs on offer in a sale of close to 2,000 sheep.
Manager Ann Harkin reported that the higher numbers on offer more than satisfied demand with over 400 hoggets also entered, taking the pressure of factory agents to delve into purchasing higher numbers of spring lambs to meet Easter market demand. This combined with factory prices running 40c/kg to 50c/kg behind the corresponding period in 2016 resulted in prices dropping by €10 to €15 per head on 2016 levels.
Harkin reported that the later date for Easter also saw lambs averaging 3kg to 5kg heavier with a significant number weighing in excess of 48kg. Lambs weighing in this bracket, rising to 55kg, sold from €120 to €140 in general with a few standout prices of €160 to €180 for pairs of lambs claiming the top prizes in the show and sale.
Lighter spring lambs in the 42kg to 45kg weight bracket started at €100 to €108 for lots lacking flesh and increased to €120 for those with a good cover of flesh. This differential in price was evident across all weight ranges with lambs weighing 38kg to 42kg selling from €95 to €102 for the plainer quality lots and up to €110 for young, fleshed lambs.
Hogget trade
The best demand was for fleshed hoggets with good-quality lots attracting competition from butcher, wholesale and factory buyers. Hoggets weighing 50kg to 56kg sold in general from €115 to €120 with a few lots rising to a top of €127. Lots weighing 45kg to 50kg sold from €110 to €116, with prices for similar weight hoggets varying by as much as €8 to €10 depending on flesh cover and quality, while lighter lots weighing 40kg to 45kg sold from €85 to €110.
Brisk ewe and lamb trade
While the trade for spring lambs was disappointing for early lamb producers, the trade for ewes with lambs at foot was helped by strong farmer demand. Harkin said that the recent improvement in weather had seen a big lift in farmer-buying in both sheep and cattle sales.
Ewes with a single lamb at foot sold from €140 for aged ewes with good-quality lambs to €180 for young ewes or ewes with strong aged lambs. Ewes with two lambs at foot sold from €180 to €262, with the best demand again for young ewes. The trade has also been helped by a lower cost to replace cull ewes with prices for feeding lowland ewes ranging from €60 to €85, while fleshed lots sold from €80 to €120 with a number of large-framed ewes exceeding this range and rising to a fine top price of €147.
The prizewinners from the show sponsored by Kieran Milling and sale value for spring lambs were as follows:
First prize: John McConnell, Raphoe, with lambs weighing 55kg and purchased by Stephen Kerr, Butcher, Falcarragh, for €162 each.Second prize: John Gallagher, Ardara with lambs weighing 55kg and purchased by William Doherty, Butcher Shop, Clonmany, for €171 each.Third prize: Doreen Kidd, Burnfoot, with lambs weighing 53kg and purchased by Kieran Lynch, Watson Meats, St Johnston, for €182 each.
Easter falling three weeks later than 2016 has resulted in far more lambs coming on stream for the Easter market. Raphoe Mart in Donegal held a special spring lamb show and sale on Monday of this week. The entry exceeded expectations with over 500 spring lambs on offer in a sale of close to 2,000 sheep.
Manager Ann Harkin reported that the higher numbers on offer more than satisfied demand with over 400 hoggets also entered, taking the pressure of factory agents to delve into purchasing higher numbers of spring lambs to meet Easter market demand. This combined with factory prices running 40c/kg to 50c/kg behind the corresponding period in 2016 resulted in prices dropping by €10 to €15 per head on 2016 levels.
Harkin reported that the later date for Easter also saw lambs averaging 3kg to 5kg heavier with a significant number weighing in excess of 48kg. Lambs weighing in this bracket, rising to 55kg, sold from €120 to €140 in general with a few standout prices of €160 to €180 for pairs of lambs claiming the top prizes in the show and sale.
Lighter spring lambs in the 42kg to 45kg weight bracket started at €100 to €108 for lots lacking flesh and increased to €120 for those with a good cover of flesh. This differential in price was evident across all weight ranges with lambs weighing 38kg to 42kg selling from €95 to €102 for the plainer quality lots and up to €110 for young, fleshed lambs.
Hogget trade
The best demand was for fleshed hoggets with good-quality lots attracting competition from butcher, wholesale and factory buyers. Hoggets weighing 50kg to 56kg sold in general from €115 to €120 with a few lots rising to a top of €127. Lots weighing 45kg to 50kg sold from €110 to €116, with prices for similar weight hoggets varying by as much as €8 to €10 depending on flesh cover and quality, while lighter lots weighing 40kg to 45kg sold from €85 to €110.
Brisk ewe and lamb trade
While the trade for spring lambs was disappointing for early lamb producers, the trade for ewes with lambs at foot was helped by strong farmer demand. Harkin said that the recent improvement in weather had seen a big lift in farmer-buying in both sheep and cattle sales.
Ewes with a single lamb at foot sold from €140 for aged ewes with good-quality lambs to €180 for young ewes or ewes with strong aged lambs. Ewes with two lambs at foot sold from €180 to €262, with the best demand again for young ewes. The trade has also been helped by a lower cost to replace cull ewes with prices for feeding lowland ewes ranging from €60 to €85, while fleshed lots sold from €80 to €120 with a number of large-framed ewes exceeding this range and rising to a fine top price of €147.
The prizewinners from the show sponsored by Kieran Milling and sale value for spring lambs were as follows:
First prize: John McConnell, Raphoe, with lambs weighing 55kg and purchased by Stephen Kerr, Butcher, Falcarragh, for €162 each.Second prize: John Gallagher, Ardara with lambs weighing 55kg and purchased by William Doherty, Butcher Shop, Clonmany, for €171 each.Third prize: Doreen Kidd, Burnfoot, with lambs weighing 53kg and purchased by Kieran Lynch, Watson Meats, St Johnston, for €182 each. 
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