There was a reported “decrease” in the amount of sheep on offer in marts around the country last week, as farmers took advantage of the good weather to get outdoor jobs out of the way.

Approximately 500 sheep were on offer at Monday’s sales. Mart manager, George Candler, commented on how this number was a “decrease” on the previous week’s entry. Candler put this down to “farmers being busy cutting silage and hay”.

Trade was marginally reduced, compared to the highs of previous weeks. Lamb price peaked at €125/head while the best price for cull ewes was €130/head.

Firstly, butcher lambs made from €2.35-2.55/kg, or €65-72 over the kg.

Factory lambs were making from €2.45/kg to €2.57/kg, or €62-70 over the kg.

Cast ewes made from €85 – €130/head.

There was a large number of sheep for sale in Mountbellew, on Saturday, June 10.

A small number of stag ewes and hoggets was on offer, but increased amounts of lambs and ewes with lambs at foot were for sale.

Spring lambs traded similar to the previous week.

There was a large number of store lambs on offer.

There were also some sample hogget prices given. One wether hogget, weighing 60kg, sold for €110, while five ewe hoggets weighing 61kg on average fetched €142. Also, 10 ewe hoggets averaging 46kg made €130 each.

There was a smaller number of ewes on offer when compared to the previous week, with similar trade. Prices paid for these ranged from €75 to €120.

There was a good entry of sheep at Monday’s sales, according to mart manager, Anne Harkin.

A 57kg lamb sold for a “high” of €134 or €2.35/kg.

There was a range in prices for ewes with lambs at foot, at Monday’s sale. Ewes with one lamb sold from €120 to €210, while ewes with two lambs sold from €150 to €220.

Harkin said that fat ewes sold from €60 to €125.