Last week at marts, prices for spring lambs took a hit of €5-10/head at sales, as factories moved to pull prices.

At the start of last week, prices were back as much as €10/head. As the week progressed, prices were back by around €5/head - on average - for spring lambs.

At Blessington Mart last week, spring lambs were easier by €5-7/head, according to the mart's manager, John Doyle.

The general run of prices for good-quality fleshed spring lambs last week ranged from €160/head, up to a high of €170/head, with plainer types selling back to €150-155/head.

Lighter lambs over 40kg have generally made from €140-150/head, with better-quality lots pushing over the €150/head mark and making up to €160/head in isolated cases.

Lambs of similar weight, but of poorer-quality, generally sold for under less than €140/head - back to €135/head on average.

The hogget and cull ewe trade at marts last week held firm, despite factory prices easing for hoggets.

Looking at the hogget trade first. Fleshed hoggets sold to highs of €160-170/head, with the majority of those fleshed hoggets selling from €145/head up to €170/head.

In cases, ewe hoggets with breeding potential sold up to a high of €180/head in isolated cases.

More store-type hoggets generally sold from €110/head up to €140/head, with higher prices seen for ewe hoggets generally.

Onto the cull ewe trade, heavy fleshed ewes last week were generally moving at prices between €130/head up to €160/head - with heavier ewes typically over 100kg, selling for a bit more and up as far as €165-170/head.

After a week away and after taking precautionary measures under the advice of the HSE due to Covid-19, Dowra Mart returned to action last Friday (April 30).

The mart's manager, Terry McGovern, reported a large entry of sheep, although prices were back on the previous sale held two weeks previously.

However, he said that the trade remained strong overall. Factory-type spring lambs made from €140/head, to a top of €170/head.

Factory hoggets made from €125/head to a top of €169/head. The heavy cull ewes made from €120/head, to a top of €160/head, while ewes with lambs at foot made to a top of €275.

Sample spring lamb prices:

Sample hogget prices:

A smaller number of sheep were on offer at Carnew Mart on Thursday last (April 29), according to the mart's manager, David Quinn.

A total of 1,623 sheep were on offer, with spring lamb prices easier by €5/head on the week before, while all other classes held a strong trade, David added.

Heavy cull ewes sold from €130/head up to a high of €168/head. Lighter ewes traded from €75/head up to €127/head.

Ewes with single lambs at foot made from €180/unit, up to €255/unit. While ewes with twin lambs at foot sold from €225/unit up to €305/unit.

Sample spring lamb prices:

Sample hogget prices: