A look at sheep prices in four marts across the country

In this article on That’s Farming, we hear from mart spokespeople across the country, as we preview the sheep trade in marts nationwide, including Tuam, Ennis, Blessington and Dowra.

Tuam

According to Marion Devane, manager of Tuam Mart, “steady demand is building” for breeding sheep and hoggets.

At Tuesday’s sale (August 8^th, 2023), lambs reached €149/head, while cull ewes pushed up to €166/head and hoggets climbed to €214/head.

Sample prices as follows:

• 8 1st crop ewes by a Cregmore farmer made €184;
• 6 2nd crop ewes by a Cregmore farmer made €165;
• 8 hoggets by a Claremorris farmer made €214.

Lamb prices:

• X15 42.5 by a Ballyglunin farmer made €137 (€3.22/kg);
• x5 43.5 kg by a Lavally farmer made €135 (€3.10/kg);
• X10 45 kg by a Barbersfort farmer made €136 (€3.02/kg);
• X5 46 kg by a Knocknagur farmer made €143 (€3.11/kg);
• X13 47 kg by a Tuam farmer made €136 (€2.89/kg);
• X10 50 kg by a Ballyglunin farmer made €149 (€2.98/kg).

Cull ewes:

• 86 kg €166 (€1.93/kg);
• 63 kg €148 (€2.35/kg);
• 96 kg €180 (€1.88/kg);
• 78 kg €142 (€1.82/kg);
• 82 kg €156 (€1.90/kg);
• 81 kg €152 (€1.88/kg).

Blessington

Meanwhile, in Blessington, a spokesperson reported that a “steady” trade prevailed for all types of lambs, both fat and stores, at Tuesday’s sale (August 8^th, 2023).

They noted that cast ewes met with a “very strong” trade at this week’s sale.

Heavy ewes ranged from €160-€240/head, while lighter ewes made from €88-€150/head.

Store lambs over 40kgs climbed from €106-€118/head or €66-€81 over the kg, while those over 35kgs varied from €80-€106/head or €45-€73 over the kg.

Meanwhile, heavy lambs changed hands from €146-€158/head or €96-€105 over the kg, while factory types stood from €128-€146/head or €86-€99 over the weight.

Ennis

Meanwhile, in Ennis Mart on Monday, August 7^th, just over 800 lots were on offer at its sheep sale.

The mart spokesperson reported that “trade held pretty solid and in cases, was a shade dearer than last week”.

“Cull ewes also a very good trade with a few lots breaching the €200 mark with 7 at 92kgs making €200 and €226 was achieved for 98kgs, and a single ewe at 116kgs hit €251.”

Lamb prices:                 

• 10 @ 53kgs – €166 – €3.13/kg;
• 11 @ 51kgs – €157 – €3.08/kg;
• 12 @ 49kgs – €152 – €3.10/kg;
• 11 @ 48kgs – €150 – €3.12/kg;
• 13 @ 50.5kgs – €146 – €2.87/kg;
• 8 @ 44kgs – €130 – €2.95/kg;
• 9 @ 47.5kgs – €141 – €2.97/kg;
• 16 @ 45kgs – €148 – €3.29/kg.

Store lamb prices:

• 9 @ 31kgs – €96 – €3.10/kg;
• 14 @ 31.5kgs – €99 – €3.14/kg;
• 12 @ 39kgs – €118 – €3.03/kg;
• 11 @ 39kgs – €119 – €3.05/kg;
• 10 @ 38kgs – €110 – €2.89/kg;
• 13 @ 38.5kgs – €120 – €3.12/kg.

Dowra

Meanwhile, in Dowra, on Friday, August 5^th, a smaller entry came under the hammer, with over 2,00 sheep changing hands.

A spokesperson reported “that trade appears to be back €2-€5 per head across all classes”.

“A cull ewe weighing 86kg sold for €153, while 13 ewes weighing 70kg made €119 and 2 hogget ewes were sold at €192,” the spokesperson added.

Light store lambs:

• 60 32.5kg @ €80;
• 10 29kg @ €79;
• 13 34kg @ €79;
• 44 31kg @ €74;
• 50 30kg @ €72.50;
• 94 30kg @ €71;
• 40 28.5kg @ €70.50;
• 16 31.5kg @ €69.50;
• 23 28.5kg @ €67.

Spring lamb prices:

• 10 52.5kg @ €142.5;
• 19 50kg @€141.50;
• 5 50kg @ €140;
• 9 48.50kg @ €139;
• 9 46kg @ €135.50;
• 7 46kg @ €135;
• 15 45.5kg @ €134;
• 39 46kg @ €133.50.

 Forward store lambs:

• 14 40kg @ €121;
• 7 33kg @ €117;
• 13 42kg @ €115;
• 16 42.5kg @ €113.50;
• 8 38.5kg @ €110;
• 20 40.5kg @ €110.