Sheep Prices in Livestock Marts
In this week’s Talking Trade, That’s Farming, looks at returns at the ringsides of Kilkenny Mart, Baltinglass Mart and Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart.
According to George Candler, a small entry of some 350 lots met with a “steady trade all around” at Kilkenny Mart’s sheep sale on Monday, March 13th, 2023.
The mart’s auctioneer reported that returns soared to €190/head for cast ewes and up to €165/head for butcher-type hoggets.
Factory lambs – €2.70-€3.00/kg or €120-€155/head:
- 6 52kgs – €155;
- 12 51kgs – €153;
- 10 50kgs – €150;
- 32 47kgs – €138;
- 10 44kgs – €123;
- 10 42kgs – €120.
Butcher lambs – €2.35-€2.91/kg or €147-€165/head:
- 5 70kgs – €165;
- 16 61kgs – €154;
- 20 56kgs – €157;
- 12 55kgs – €160;
- 5 54kgs – €150;
- 18 53kgs – €149.
Other categories:
- Cast ewes – €80-€190/head
Sheep prices at Ballinglass Mart
In Baltinglass Mart on Saturday, March 11th, 2023, a spokesperson reported that butcher and factory lambs were up by €3-€5/head on the previous week.
They noted that a small entry came under the hammer at the mart’s weekly sheep sale, which prices peak at €150/head, as follows:
- 7 x 54kg made €150;
- 4 x 52kg made €144;
- 5 x 44kg made €125;
- 1 x 44kg made €124;
- 5 x 42kg made €116;
- 17 x 39kg made €109;
- 6 x 37kg made €108;
- 6 x 36kg made €104;
- 3 x 34kg made €90;
- 4 x 33kg made €86;
- 3 x 29kg made €74.
Other categories:
- Cast ewes from €86 up to €135
Report from Ballinrobe Mart
According to Teresa Gibsey, a “steady” number turned out for Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart’s sheep sale on Thursday, March 9th, 2023, in spite of inclement weather conditions.
The mart’s recently appointed assistant manager reported that the sale attracted “excellent quality sheep which met with a full clearance”.
“Lambs made between €2.46/kg and €3.13/kg, with an average across the board of €2.81/kg, an increase of forty cents on the previous week’s average.”
“The average price per head was approximately €130, with a top call of €145 for 57.5kg ewe lambs making €2.52/kg.”
“Other prices from the day were 50kg ram lambs, €145, €2.90/kg; 48kg ewe lambs, €148, €2.92/kg; 40kg wether lambs, €125, €3.13/kg and 48kg ewe lambs, €138, €2.88/kg.”
According to Gibsey, cull ewes changed hands from €63 to €120 per head, with an average of €85 paid per head.
Meanwhile, in-lamb third-crop ewes due to Charollais ram went under the hammer at €130.
