Market signals from the live trade and the dead trade in recent days have been at odds with factory agents moving to reduce quotes by 20c/kg but tight supplies on offer in many mart sales have ensured a steady trade. Base quotes for Tuesday are all in the region of €8/kg for quality assured (QA) lambs.

This includes the two Irish Country Meats plants quoting a base of €7.80/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance bonus, while Kildare Chilling are quoting a base of €7.90 plus 10c/kg QA. Reports indicate other plants are also operating at a similar opening quote.

Prices paid to groups and regular sellers on Tuesday are in the region of €8.10/kg to €8.20/kg when group or bonus payments are added in. There are some deals above this prices range where deals were negotiated last week for significant numbers.

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Mart trade

The dead trade is at odds to reports from the mart trade where prices in sales held on Saturday and Monday have been steady in the main.

Athenry Mart in Co Galway recorded a sharp trade for heavy lambs on Monday, with lots weighing from 50kg to 52kg upwards trading from €174 to €187 in the main with selection of excellent quality and heavier types rising to €190 and higher on occasion.

Raphoe Mart in Co Donegal was reflective of many mart sales with a small number of heavier slaughter-fit lambs on offer.

Prices averaged around the €170 to €174 per head mark for lambs weighing in the region of 49kg to 51.5kg and some of which were crossbred/horned types.

The tightness in supplies left agents keen for lighter fleshed lambs with nice-quality lambs weighing from 45kg to 46kg selling from €160 to €165 and higher on occasion, and back to the mid-€150s for lesser-quality types. There was a rapid trade for good-quality ewe lambs which hit prices of €4.50/kg to as high as €5/kg while store lambs were also in demand.

Light store lambs weighing from below 30kg to about 32kg sold from €4/kg to €4.60/kg for lowland types and lots including ewe lambs with breeding potential, easing back to €3.60/kg for crossbred and horned types. Heavier lambs weighing 37kg to 40kg sold on average from €3.70/kg to €4/kg.

Dowra Mart

Friday’s sheep sale in Dowra Mart in Cavan met a solid trade. Heavy lambs weighing up to 56kg to 58kg sold from €176 to €182 per head while the general run of prices for lambs weighing from 49kg to 50kg ranged from €169 to €176 depending on lamb type and quality.

Lighter lambs weighing from 45kg to 47kg sold anywhere from €150 to €165 per head with crossbred lambs at the lower end of the price range.

The trade for store lambs was firm with prices topping €4/kg for nice-quality store lambs and reaching as high as €4.50/kg while heavier lots weighing from 37kg to 40kg, plus, ranging from €3.55/kg all the way to €4/kg with lamb typs and condition again having a big influence on prices paid.