The sheep trade remains steady, with supplies coming on stream finely balanced with demand.

Base factory quotes are in the region of €8.50/kg to €8.60/kg, with opening quotes for quality assured (QA) lambs in the region of €8.70/kg across most factories.

Lambs traded through groups and from regular sellers with greater negotiating power are rising to €8.80/kg, with top prices hitting €8.90/kg and slightly higher in some cases.

The mart trade is largely unchanged, with throughput also running below normal levels.

Prices paid for lambs fleshed weighing 48kg to 50kg are typically in the region of €186 to €194/head.

Top prices for heavier and excellent-quality lots are rising and in cases exceeding €200/head, with some marts on Monday recording isolated lots reaching €210 for small numbers buoyed by butcher or wholesale buyer interest.

Hoggets

Hogget quotes are also steady, with factories opening negotiations for QA sheep at €7.20/kg.

Producers are securing €7.30/kg for numbers, while, at the top end of the market, feeders handling significant numbers are negotiating €7.40/kg to €7.50/kg for hoggets satisfying desired specs.

Hoggets deemed overweight continue to be subject to prices penalties rising to 80c/kg to €1/kg, with both overweight and hoggets which have set teeth priced at or close to ewe price.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade also remains unchanged, with significant variation between plants.

At the lower end of the market, a price of €4.50/kg is being offered, with scope to push this towards €4.70/kg.

Factories with more interest in ewes are paying up to €5/kg, while, at the top end of the market, plants or abattoirs active in the ewe trade are paying to €5.20/kg and higher for choice lots.

Northern trade

A couple of factories are trying to insert some pressure on price in Northern Ireland and trying to hold top prices paid at £7/kg (€8.21/kg). Deals continue to be done at £7.10/kg and higher, with more life in the live trade in recent weeks adding some well-needed competition. The trade in Britain is firm at £7.50/kg.