Kilkenny Mart – Sheep Prices – 15-05-2023
According to George Candler, a smaller entry of sheep at Kilkenny Mart, on Monday, May 15th, 2023, met with a “superb, fast” selling trade, writes farming journalist, Catherina Cunnane.
The mart’s auctioneer reported that butcher lambs peaked at €188/head, while factory lambs topped out at €175/head and cast ewes fetched up to €228/head.
Speaking following the sale, he said: “The sale comprised mainly spring lambs, with hogget numbers dramatically reduced.”
“The smaller numbers are due to the fact that many sheep farmers are now lambing from the end of February to early March.”
“Uncertainty of price being the main factor. Early lambing is not as popular; also, the large increase in feed costs is another driver,” he added.
Butcher lambs – €3.40-€3.76/kg or €175-€188/head:
- 5 55kgs – €187;
- 8 53kgs – €186;
- 10 52kgs – €182;
- 15 51kgs – €185;
- 10 50kgs – €188;
- 8 49kgs – €180.
Factory lambs – €3.60-€4.00/kg or €155-€175/head:
- 12 46kgs – €175;
- 10 45kgs – €170;
- 18 44kgs – €170;
- 5 43kgs – €167;
- 15 42kgs – €164;
- 10 40kgs – €160.
Other categories:
- Cast ewes – €88-€228/head
An interview with George Candler
Renowned for his quirky chant and witty personality, George Candler is a name synonymous with livestock auctioneering nationwide.
The Roscommon native, who grew up on a 100-acre farm, secured a trainee auctioneering position with Kilkenny Mart in 1972.
At the time, his family understood he would take over the family farm in Roscommon and carve a career in auctioneering as an only son.
“Kilkenny Mart asked me to stay, and the rest is history,” he told Thatfarming.com.
He [father] never held it against me; he said it is your life, and you do what you feel is correct. There have been a lot of changes on the livestock front since then.”
George Candler tells us about his journey to the rostrum in this article.
Kilkenny Mart information:
- Address: Kilkenny Co-Operative Livestock Market LTD, Cillin Hill, Dublin Road, Co. Kilkenny
- Contact details: [email protected]or phone: 056-7721407 or see the mart’s website.
Upcoming sales:
- Sheep and calf sale – Mondays at 10 am with a dairy sale at 12 pm
- Cattle sale – Thursday – Cows at 10 am, followed by heifers, with bullocks at 10:30 am.
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