New price records for ewe hoggets and ewe lambs have been set in many marts hosting special sales.

The Borris Ewe Breeders Association sale held in Borris Mart on Saturday recorded 35% of hoggets selling in excess of €400/head with another 30% selling from €340 to €400/head.

Prices increased by over €100/head, with the sale following on from an equally impressive premier sale in recent weeks held by the Tullow Sheep Breeders Association in Tullow Mart.

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Mart managers are also reporting a much sharper trade in breeding ewe entries.

Top prices paid for the best-quality hoggets on offer are running anywhere from €50 to €70/head higher, with a significant percentage of hoggets selling from €270 to €350/head and highest prices rising to €400/head.

The keen demand for ewe hoggets is being helped by a continued firm trade for cull ewes, tighter supplies in the market and the lamb trade running ahead of 2024 levels. Factory lamb prices are currently running 80c/kg ahead of the corresponding period in 2024, or about €16/head higher on a 20kg carcase. Mart prices for finished lambs are running from €15 to €20/head higher.

Farmers selling store lambs are also trading in to an improved trade with the biggest improvement in price witnessed for hill lambs.

Lowland store lambs are selling from €3.70/kg to €4/kg on average, with prices running 50c/kg to 70c/kg higher. Hill lambs have seen prices increase by upwards of €1/kg.

The trade is being helped by tighter numbers and cattle farmers purchasing lambs to reduce their exposure from a red-hot cattle trade.