The trade for good-quality finished lambs in many marts has edged ahead of what many producers with lower negotiating power can secure in direct factory sales or via their agent.

This, according to many mart managers, is enticing more producers to offer good-quality lambs live, with sales recording keen demand from factory and butcher agents benefiting most from the increased competition.

Some mart managers report prices increasing anywhere from €5 to €10/head on the previous week, with the general trend being an increase of €3 to €7/head.

The rise in the trade has pushed good-quality fleshed lowland lambs weighing upwards of 50kg into a price range of €140 to €147/head, with heavier and excellent-quality butcher lambs rising to €150 and higher and in cases hitting €155/head.

Crossbred lambs or plainer-quality lambs lacking flesh are significantly lower, selling back to €130/head in cases.

Likewise, the trade for lambs weighing 47kg to 49kg ranges anywhere from below the €130 mark for lesser-quality lambs to in excess of €140 for the best-quality types.

The best trade for store lambs continues to be for short-keep stores. Lowland lambs weighing 36kg to 42kg are trading from €2.70/kg to €2.90/kg on average, with top prices reaching and exceeding €3/kg.

Crossbred lambs are trading from €2.40/kg to €2.75/kg, depending on quality, with heavier hill lambs back to €1.90/kg to €2.20/kg and light, plainer-quality types as low as €1.70/kg.

The cull ewe trade is edging upwards, with some marts witnessing prices rising by upwards of €5 to €8/ewe. Mart managers are also reporting a recovery in the trade for heavy fleshed ewes, with ewes weighing 90kg to 100kg selling from €140 to €170 for best quality.

Factory agents are the main buyers for lighter ewes and they are also showing a keener appetite.

Ewes weighing 80kg to 85kg are trading from €110 to €135, with flesh cover and quality key. Ewes weighing around 75kg are trading from €85 to €125, while boner-type ewes and Scottish Blackface ewes are from €0.90/kg to €1.25/kg.