The mart trade has weakened significantly in recent days.

Mart managers report prices paid for lambs falling by an average of €5 to €7 per head and as high as €10 in cases where sales were especially strong in the previous week.

Heavier lambs weighing 47kg to 50kg are selling from €122 to €128 on average, with some excellent-quality lots rising to and exceeding €130.

Lambs weighing 43kg to 45kg are selling on average from €115 to €123, with quality having a big influence on prices paid.

Lighter lots weighing 40kg to 42kg are trading in the main from €108 to €114, with factory agents keen to source lambs which will kill-out in the region of 20kg carcase weight.

Forward stores

Forward store lambs weighing 37kg to 39kg have started appearing in small numbers, with nicely-fleshed lots ranging in price from the low- to mid-€90s to over €100 per head for lots suitable for slaughter.

The cull ewe trade has also taken a heavy hit, with prices falling by a similar level.

Heavy, fleshed ewes are back by €10 to €12 in cases, with factory agents showing reduced demand.

Large-framed ewes are trading from €105 to €115 on average, with the best-quality lots securing €5 to €10 higher prices.

Medium-sized fleshed ewes are trading from €90 to €105, with good-quality feeding ewes from €70 to a top of €85 or even €90.

Demand for ewes with lambs at foot continues to outweigh supplies on offer.

Good twin lamb units comprising of young ewes or ewes with a good mouth and strong lambs range from €220 to €250, with select lots exceeding this range.

Average-quality lots are selling back to €190 to €210, with poor-quality lots selling back to €150 to €160.

There is also a wide differential for single-lamb lots, with prices ranging from €180 to €210 for good hogget and first-crop ewes with strong lambs.

Average-quality lots are trading from €150 to €170, with only small numbers reported below this range.