Mart Reports

Rachel Gallagher reports from the recent cattle sale held in Ballymote Livestock Mart.

Opening prices for quality assured lambs have increased by another 10c/kg, with agents struggling to get their hands on required numbers.

A full clearance and top prices tell the story of the cattle trade in Skibbereen Mart for its weanling show and sale on Friday last.

There has been a significant improvement in recent weeks in demand and prices paid for store lambs, with light lambs in particular improving.

A price premium was paid for nice-quality ewe lambs, while Saturday’s sale also recorded a sharper trade for all types of store lambs.

It would be safe to say demand almost exceeded supply at the spring-born weanling show and sale in Iveragh Co-operative Mart this week. Bulls between 300kg and 350kg were competed strongly for.

Tighter supply is fuelling demand across all categories of stock with breeding ewe hoggets and rams enjoying a vibrant trade and store and finished lambs meeting keener demand.

Kilkenny Mart was the standout sale on Monday, where butcher-type lambs sold to a top of €200/head.