Base sheep quotes remained unchanged on Monday at a starting price of €7.60/kg.

When quality assured (QA) payments of 10c/kg to 20c/kg are added in, it leaves opening prices in the region of €7.70/kg to €7.80/kg.

Tricky road conditions led to some sellers cancelling bookings on Monday morning.

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This, in cases, opened the door for sellers capable of moving higher numbers at short notice to secure an extra 5c/kg to 10c/kg.

Sellers who last week were paid €7.90/kg had some success in negotiating €8/kg, while, at the top end of the market, finishers or agents secured returns of upwards of €8/kg.

A similar scenario is in store for Tuesday, with a weather warning remaining in place for sub-zero temperatures and cautions in place for dangerous driving conditions.

Entries

Mart entries have also remained lower in marts which did take place, although prices were unchanged in the main.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants have moved to 23kg carcase weight. No other plant has officially moved to the higher weight limit, but are paying it to groups and some producers or sellers with greater bargaining power.

The move by ICM is putting pressure on other plants to follow suit or for agents to negotiate more favourable terms.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is static, with most plants quoting €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg.

Sellers handling significant numbers are securing upwards of €4.50/kg, while, at the top end of the market, plants and abattoirs specialising in the ewe trade are paying upwards of €5/kg.

Northern Ireland

There was more weather-related disruption to throughput in Northern Ireland, with heavy snowfalls in many regions.

Plants continue to quote £6.30/kg to £6.40/kg (€7.23/kg to €7.34/kg), with sellers trading at the top end of the market having success negotiating returns of £6.50/kg.

There is firm competition in the market from agents purchasing lambs for export to Britain and Ireland, with an extra 0.5kg to 1kg carcase weight limit helping their purchasing power.