Finished lamb prices have come under significant pressure in some sales with prices falling by €5 to €8 per head while other marts report prices easing by €3 on average compared to last week.

Heavier lambs weighing from 49kg to 50kg are selling from €168 to €175 with top prices for quality lambs in some sales rising to upwards of €180 per head.

Lighter lambs weighing 47kg to 48kg are ranging in price from €160 to upwards of €172 with slaughter potential dictating prices. While lambs weighing 45kg are selling from below €150 per head for plainer-quality lots lacking flesh to €160 to €165 for better-quality lots.

In contrast the trade for store lambs is solid but prices are dependent on lamb type and farmer competition.

Upwards of €4/kg has been paid for top-quality well-presented stores weighing 36kg to 40kg plus where farmers have got stuck in competing. The general run of prices is in region of €3.70/kg for €3.90/kg for well-presented stores with plainer-quality heavier types back to €3.60/kg and lower.

Light lambs

Prices paid for light lambs are achieving a higher average price of €3.80/kg to €4/kg with select lots of top-quality lambs weighing back to 30kg selling to €130 and higher in infrequent cases.

Numbers of ewe hoggets are low with many farmers now opting to wait until breeding sales commence. There is good demand for the small numbers appearing but it is hard to put a tight range on price.

Top-quality lots have hit €250 to €300 while plainer-quality smaller-framed types have sold from €200 upwards.

The trade for small numbers of ewes suitable for breeding has been dominated by cull ewe buyers with many such ewes marketed through the cull ring in any case.

Prices for quality cull ewes are in the region of €2.45/kg to €2.70/kg with small numbers above this range. Lots lacking flesh are selling back to €2/kg with some demand appearing for store ewes suitable for feeding.

Crossbred and hill ewes are selling from €1.80/kg to €2.10/kg depending on likely carcase weight with Scottish Blackface ewes falling back to €1.50/kg and as low as €1/kg for light carcase ewes in poor condition.