An improved sheep trade has been noted at many livestock marts across Ireland this week for spring and store lambs.

Adrian Gallagher, the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) sheep chair said prices have picked up in the last four weeks.

He said the lighter store lambs between 25-35kg have risen in price of up to €20/head during this period.

Gallagher told Agriland the breeding ewe trade and the quality of breeding hoggets has been good.

He added that since the Budget 2025 announcement of an extra €5/ewe in the National Sheep Welfare Scheme given, buyers have a newfound "confidence" for buying the hoggets and breeding ewes.

ICSA (Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association) sheep chair Willie Shaw told Agriland that lambs are up 5-10c/kg in a week at marts.

Shaw has predicted lambs will become more expensive in the coming weeks and months, but said that the trade is "positive" currently.

At Ennis Mart on Monday, October 7, there was a slightly bigger sheep sale with 486 on offer.

The trade was reportedly "a shade better" for both stores and fleshed lambs and the better cull ewes also improved somewhat, with these making over €2/kg.

Lambs:

Seven weighing 53.5kg - €192 - €3.59/kg;
Eight weighing 53kg - €188 - €3.54/kg;
12 weighing 51.5kg - €170 - €3.30/kg;
13 weighing 46kg - €160 - €3.47/kg;
10 weighing 45kg - €159 - €3.53/kg;
11 weighing 47kg - €157 - €3.34/kg;
Five weighing 55.5kg - €184 - €3.34/kg.

Store lambs:

10 weighing 37kg - €133 - €3.59/kg;
12 weighing 38.5kg- €130 - €3.37/kg;
Nine weighing 38kg - €137 - €3.60/kg;
10 weighing 29kg - €85 - €2.93/kg;
Nine weighing 32.5kg - €101 - €3.11/kg;
Seven weighing 32.5kg- €118 - €3.63/kg.

On Tuesday, October 8 at Blessington Mart, the weekly sheep sale there was reportedly a very big sale of sheep where there was a lively trade for all classes.

The fat lambs and quality store lambs were better by €3 to €7 a head on last week.

Heavy lambs €168 to €173 or €108 to €116 over €/kg;
Factory lambs €140 to €168 or €106 to €118 over €/kg;
Store lambs €96 to €138 or €66 to €98 over €/kg;
Suffolk ewe lambs €130 to €202 or €100 to €166 over €/kg;
Cheviot ewe lambs €110 to €178 or €76 to €138 over €/kg;
Heavy ewes €160 to €206/head;
Lighter ewes €86 to €152/head;
Suffolk X hogget ewes €200 to €290/head;
Suffolk X 3/4-year-old ewes €160 to €220/head;
Cheviot hogget ewes €200 to €260/head;
Cheviot 3/4-year-old old ewes €160 to €215/head.

Below are a selection of prices from the sheep sale at Tuam Mart on Tuesday, October 8 are featured below:

Sample lamb prices :

57.3kg-€181 (€3.16/kg);
51.1kg-€172 (€3.37/kg);
49kg-€167 (€3.41/kg);
48kg-€181 (€3.77/kg);
48.5kg-€174 (€3.59/kg);
47.5kg- €174 (€3.66/kg);
44kg- €148 (€3.36/kg);
44.8kg- €154 (€3.44/kg);
39.5kg- €141 (€3.57/kg);
35.5kg- €132 (€3.72/kg);
33kg- € 128 (€3.88/kg).

Sample ewe hogget prices:

Five hoggets made €338/hd;
Five hoggets made €312/hd;
Five hoggets made €310/hd;
Seven hoggets made €306/hd;
Five hoggets made €302/hd;
10 hoggets made €290/hd.

Sample breeding ewe prices:

Nine ewes made €272/hd;
Eight ewes made €214/hd;
Eight ewes made €210/hd;
Nine ewes made €208/hd;
Seven ewes made €200/hd;
10 ewes made €196/hd.

Sample cull ewe prices:

102kg €216 (€2.12/kg);
93kg €186 (€2/kg);
90kg €206 (€2.29/kg);
86.6kg €186 (€2.15/kg);
86.4kg €170 (€1.97/kg);
85kg €182(€2.14/kg);
84kg €176 (€2.10/kg);
76kg €170 (€2.24/kg);
74kg €140 (€1.89/kg);
71kg €158 (€2.23/kg).

At Carnew Mart on Saturday, October 3, there was a similar size sale to last week with over 4,000 sheep on offer.

Store lambs were up €5 - €10/head as farmers, wholesalers and specialist feeders were very eager for all types of stores which led to a full clearance.

Breeding ewes were a strong trade with customers ringside and online, making from €170 - €240.

Hogget ewes made from €180-250 with the majority making over €230. There was a special ram sale in ring 2 at 6:00p.m with over 100 rams on offer, making from €500 - €1180.