For the first time in a number of weeks, the sheep trade has started the week in a steady manner.

Base quotes are in the region of €8.50/kg to €8.60/kg, with opening prices on offer for quality assured (QA) lambs in the region of €8.70/kg.

Prices paid to groups and regular sellers are in cases rising to €8.80/kg, with some reports of isolated higher prices at the top end of the market.

Reports also indicate that numbers in the market have tightened, with hogget throughput continuing to ease and lamb numbers slower to build. As such, agents remain keen for hoggets meeting their desired specification.

Base quotes are in the region of €7.10/kg to €7.20/kg, but upwards of €7.40/kg to €7.50/kg has been paid to regular sellers for hoggets yet to set teeth and weighing less than 23kg carcase weight.

Cull ewes

The decline in hogget numbers and in particular the drop in heavy carcase weight hoggets is inserting more life into the trade for cull ewes. There is a significant difference in prices paid for ewes, with opening quotes at just €4.50/kg.

Sellers with considerable numbers of top-quality ewes are securing upwards of €4.70/kg to €4.80/kg, while abattoirs and plants specialising in the ewe trade are negotiating as high as €5/kg to €5.30/kg for choice ewes.

Numbers on offer in mart sales have also tightened, adding more life to the live trade.