Spring lambs coming through the ring at Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow are quickly becoming attractive for buyers at the sheep sales.

At the sale on Thursday, March 21, the spring lambs that have started to appear fetched a top price of €242/head.

There was a "larger sheep sale" reported at the ring, with over 2,306 sheep on offer that met a "super trade" from both factory and butcher buyers with prices up a further €3/4 on last week.

A price of €219/head paid for 30 mixed hoggets weighting 69kg, while €251 was paid for a hogget ram and a top price of €302/head paid for three cast ewes at Carnew Mart.

Sample hogget prices:

59kg at €219;
54kg at €210;
56kg at €217;
54kg at €217;
43kg at €175;
45kg at €185;
53kg at €205;
58kg at €215;
51kg at €218;
74kg at €251.

Sample ewe prices:

111kg at €302;
65kg at €150;
96kg at €259;
105kg at €276;
110kg at €288.

There was a smaller number of sheep on offer at the weekly sale of lambs and cast ewes at Roscommon Mart on on Wednesday, March 20.

Prices for finished lambs made up to €240 while the tops for stag ewes fetched €220.

Sample finished lamb prices:

58kgs- €240;
51.7kgs- €208;
50.6kgs- €196;
46.0kgs- €190;
48.1kgs- €188;
44.0kgs- €180;
44.3kgs- €180;
42.4kgs- €178;

Store lamb prices:

39.0kgs- €141;
36.8kgs- €139;
38.8kgs- €139;
35.0kgs- €125;
34.0kgs- €120.

Cast ewes made from €60 to €220/lot.

A larger entry of sheep on Wednesday, March 20 at Manorhamilton Mart in Co. Leitrim, with a brisk trade for fat hoggets reported at the sale.

There was a top price of €201 for 48kg hoggets (€4.19/kg) and hoggets peaking at €228.

Ewes and lambs at foot were reported to be in great demand this week also.

Fat hoggets over 48kg:

48kg- €201;
49kg- €203;
47.7kg- €199;
48kg- €198;
48.1kg- €198;
49.7kg- €199;
50k- €200;
72kg- €228.

Forward stores 28-46kg:

40kg- €162;
42kg- €168;
46kg- €187;
39.5kg- €158;
46kg- €186;
45kg- €177;
45.5kg- €178.

Store hoggets:

29kg- €117;
30kg- €122;
36kg- €138;
30kg- €116;
35kg- €136.

In-lamb ewes:

10 ewes carrying 19 lambs- €142;
Horned ewes carrying twins- €125;
Hiltex hoggets carrying twin lambs- €207.

Ewes and lambs:

Seven ewes and 12 lambs- €200;
12 ewes with 12 lambs- €170;
Two ewes with 4 lambs- €192;
One ewe with twins- €185;
One ewe with two lambs- €212.

Cull ewes:

80kg- €230;
85kg- €198;
75kg- €168;
61.5kg- €120;
72kg- €164;
84kg- €188.