The past few dry days has given a lifeline for farmers as they try to get field work tidied up, but the flurry of work has also helped keep the sheep trade positive.

Factory supplies have tightened further once again and this, combined with the bank holiday weekend, has meant that factory buyers have been a little more active at sourcing in the marts. Heavy butchers lamb has been met with a slight improvement also, with prices up a euro or two in some areas. Those over 50kg are selling mainly from €102 to €105/head for good-quality types, with heavy lambs carrying a little less flesh making from €97 to €101/head.

With factory agents more active at marts, farmers are selling hard and, in many cases, are getting an extra €1 to €2/head as a result. Lambs from 45kg to 48kg are selling mainly from €90 to €100/head at the upper end of the market and are averaging at about €94/head, up by about €1 to €2/head on last week, which is similar to the week before. Under-fleshed lambs in the same weight range are selling mainly from €87 to €92/head.

Store lamb demand has remained steady. Those from 37kg to 42kg are selling mainly from €77 to €84/head, which is similar to last week. Lighter types from 34kg to 37kg have seen the trade hold steady also. Prices for these are ranging mainly from €70 to €75/head, with good-quality mountain types in the same weight range making from €50 to €60/head.

Cull ewes remain a fairly steady trade, with prices ranging mainly from €55 to €70/head for average-quality and light types, with better-quality and heavy type making from €75 to €100 at the top of the market.