In this farming news article on www.thatsfarming.com, editor, Catherina Cunnane, takes a look at sheep prices in marts – Blessington, Co Wicklow, and Ballinrobe, County Mayo.
This follows our recent article on: Talking Trade: Cattle numbers tumble in marts, but trade holds firm
Blessington Mart – Sheep Prices – 13-06-2023
According to a spokesperson for Blessington Mart, fat lambs were up by €3-€5/head at Tuesday’s (June 13th, 2023), sheep sale.
The spokesperson reported that a larger entry came under the hammer, with a “better” trade for all classes.
Heavy ewes pushed from €156-€202/head, while lighter ewes changed hands from €96-€152/head.
Meanwhile, heavy lambs traded from €174-€185/head or €120-€127 over the kg, while factory lambs varied from €145-€174/head or €104-€121 over the kg and store lambs fetched from €116-€135/head or €82-€100 over the kg.
Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart
According to Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart’s assistant manager, Teresa Gibsey, prices reached €175/head at its sheep sale on Thursday, June 15th, 2023.
Prices for ewes with lambs at foot ranged from €102 to €225 for 2-year-old ewes with twin lambs at foot.
Spring lambs made from €3.04 to €3.78/kg or €110 to €175 with an average of €160 per head.
Spring lamb prices as follows:
- 56kg, €175, €3.13/kg;
- 48kg, €170, €3.54/kg;
- 56kg, €170, €3.04/kg;
- 55kg, €170, €3.09/kg;
- 37kg, €140, €3.78/kg.
Other prices from the day as follows:
- 42kg ewe lambs, €155, €3.69/kg;
- 41kg ewe lambs, €145, €3.54/kg;
- 46kg ram lambs, €160, €3.48/kg.
Cull ewes pushed from €52 to €158 per head with an average of €100 paid per head. The top price went to a 92kg cull ewe.
Ennis Mart and Kilkenny Mart
Earlier this week, we took a look at prices in Kilkenny Mart and Ennis Mart, this week.
Ennis Mart
According to a spokesperson, trade was “positive” at Ennis Mart’s sheep sale on Monday, June 12th, 2023, which saw over 700 lots come under the hammer.
They noted that a high of €189 was achieved for a pen of 10 at 54.5kgs.
They reported: “Some very good lambs were available, and Ramadan was a great benefit.”
“Some very good cull ewes were available also. These were just about holding the trade for the better lots.”
“A cull ewe of 108kgs hit €210 with a few lots in the €190 bracket,” he remarked.
Kilkenny Mart
According to George Candler, a bigger sale than usual of some 900 lots crossed the scales at Kilkenny Mart’s sheep sale on Monday, June 12th, 2023.
The mart’s auctioneer reported that the trade was aided by the presence of exporters, sourcing ram lambs to meet demand for the upcoming Muslim festival.
Candler remarked, “As the old saying goes, it is the live trade (exports) that keeps the dead trade alive”.
Butcher lambs topped out at €190/head, while factory lambs followed at €169/head and cast ewes maxed out at €205/head.
Read this report in full.
