The extra bite in the lamb trade last week has eased slightly with plants moving to try to pull prices back. Prices are holding steady, with some sales held since the start of the week reporting a €1 to €3 reduction in lamb price.

Tight supplies is inserting a strong floor under price with factory lambs weighing 40kg to 42kg selling from €108 to €115 per head. Heavier lots weighing 42kg to 45kg are selling from €110 to €125 per head.

Butcher and wholesale type lambs are selling from €122 to €130 per head, with small numbers of lambs approaching 50kg selling to €135 per head. Lighter store lambs are selling from €48 to €58 over or from €88 to €102 for lambs weighing 37kg to 40kg.

Hogget entries have dried up, apart from a small number of ewe hoggets. Price is dependent on quality and ranges anywhere from €100 for lots only suitable for slaughter to €150 for well-framed replacement ewe hoggets.

Ewe and lamb entries have fallen significantly but farmer demand is solid for any lots offered. Prices for twin lamb lots range anywhere from €130 to €200, with single lamb lots selling from €80 for Scotch ewes to €170 for first and second crop ewes with a good lamb at foot.

Cull ewes are steady, selling from €80 to €100 for factory ewes and up to €110 for large-framed export type ewes. Light carcase ewes are selling from €65 to €80 per head.