Sheep marts have been busier since the start of the week. Discussions over the weekend pointing towards greater restrictions and then the announcement of Level 5 restrictions coming into place from midnight on Wednesday have brought higher numbers forward.

Sales entries had been falling off fast and mart managers report that some farmers keen to trade before the new restrictions were in place has helped to stall the decline in numbers. There is also a similar appetite from farmers and agents looking to source sheep, which has left the trade largely unchanged and stronger in cases. Agents, butchers and wholesalers have been particularly active.

Medium-weight lambs from 44kg to 47kg and possessing a good cover of flesh are selling anywhere from €104 to €111

Well-fleshed lambs weighing 48kg upwards are trading on average from €108 to €115, with select lots of excellent-quality lambs selling to €120. This also includes ewe lambs with breeding potential, although this trade has quietened somewhat.

Medium-weight lambs from 44kg to 47kg and possessing a good cover of flesh are selling anywhere from €104 to €111.

Forward stores weighing 39kg to 42kg are selling from €90 to €94 for average-quality lots to €100 to €103 for the best quality lots. Lambs weighing 34kg to 38kg are selling from €2.05/kg to €2.20/kg for good-quality hill and crossbred lambs to €2.30/kg to €2.35/kg for nice-quality lowland lambs.

The cull ewe trade is maintaining a floor under the trade for second- and third-crop ewes

Entries of breeding sheep have reduced to very low levels in marts handling mainly lowland sheep and while numbers are slightly higher in hill regions, throughput is falling fast.

Quality is hugely variable, with hoggets reported as selling from as low as €100 to €120 for small-framed and light ewes to a top of €150 to €170.

The cull ewe trade is maintaining a floor under the trade for second- and third-crop ewes with the best-quality lots selling from €120 to €140 and back to €100 to €110 for medium-sized ewes.

A price range of €105 to €120 is buying the lion’s share of heavy cull ewes, with isolated sales to €130 to €135.

Lowland and crossbred feeding ewes are trading on average from €70 to €90, with fleshed Scottish Blackface ewes from €45 to €55 and back to €30 for plainer-quality lots.