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From 1 January 2025 farms in Ireland with a grassland stocking rate in excess of 100kg/ha organic nitrogen cannot avail of reduced storage capacity via outwintering sheep.
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High demand for all types of lambs and cull ewes was seen in Ballymote, as buyers battled against one another to secure numbers.
The first sheep sale held on the MartBids online sales platform saw butchers and agents active for fleshed lambs and plenty of farmer demand for quality stores.
Mart managers report a seasonal increase in store lamb numbers, but numbers of ewe hoggets and breeding ewes are running behind normal levels for the time of year.
A higher number of ewes requiring preferential treatment and a lower drafting rate on many farms will increase demand for grass in the coming months.
With only two lots going unsold, a 98% clearance across the yard showed the demand for sheep of all categories in Loughrea Mart on Thursday last.
Reports are indicating that factories are sourcing well-fleshed lambs as low as 40kg in order to try to secure numbers.
The cull ewe trade has been re-energised in the last 10 days, with more buyers sourcing ewes for exporting live active in sales.
Factory fit lambs in Dowra saw a lift in price in last week’s sale, but store trade was slightly easier than the week before.
Grace Hoare speaks to six IFA sheep committee members to gauge their thoughts on grass growth, sheep prices, wool and other issues.
