With prices improving in factories recently for hoggets, recent mart sales across the country are ensuring the trade is still highly competitive.

In what was described as "a slightly smaller sale of sheep", 1,200 sheep were recently sold at a sale at Dowra Mart in Co. Cavan.

Factory hoggets fetched the highest prices at the sale, which took place on Friday, February 23, and saw a top price of €193/head.

Sample factory hogget prices:

10 weighing 53kg sold for €193;
10 weighing 57kg made €192.50;
11 weighing 56kg fetched €188.50;
12 weighing 54kg made €185;
21 weighing 50.5kg sold for €183;
22 weighing 50kg fetched €182.50;
29 weighing 48.5kg made €181.50;
18 weighing 49kg sold for €180;
24 weighing 50kg made €180.

Sample forward store hogget prices:

23 weighing 40kg made €144.50;
14 weighing 39.5kg fetched €136.50;
15 weighing 38.5kg sold for €132.50;
10 weighing 38kg fetched €126.50;
Nine weighing 36kg made €123;
50 weighing 38kg sold for €120;
Five weighing 34kg made €116.50;
Two weighing 31kg fetched €103;
10 weighing 27.5kg sold for €96.

In a sale at Corrin Mart in Co. Cork yesterday (Monday, February 26), butcher hoggets top prices were between €178 and €188/head, while the factory and store lamb trade hit €160/head.

A 116kg cull ewe made €200 at the sale, while a 100kg ewe made €180.

In Blessington Mart's sheep sale on Tuesday, February 27, there was a strong trade for fat and store hoggets.

The trade for top quality heavy hoggets was up by €4 to €6/head on last week.

Heavy hogget prices were ranging from €175 to €181/ head, while factory hoggets were fetching between €160 to €175/head.

The ewe trade in the Co. Wicklow mart saw heavy ewes sell for between €146 to €180/head, while lighter ewes were from €90 to €140.

The in-lamb ewe prices at the Blessington Mart sale ranged from €140 to €162/head.