Sheep Marts: How are pricing holding up?

In this article, That’s Farming, looks at prices in Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart, Baltinglass Mart and Carnew Mart.

Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart

According to Teresa Gibsey, prices for ewes with lambs at foot ranged from €108 to €285 for second crop ewes with twin lambs at foot at Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart on Thursday, May 25^th, 2023.

Spring lambs made from €3.33 to €3.54/kg or €130 to €170 with sample prices as follows:

• 48kg, €170, €3.54/kg;
• 43kg, €145, €3.37/kg;
• 39kg, €130, €3.33/kg;
• 38kg, €130, €3.42/kg.

Hoggets pushed from €2.42/kg to €3.16/kg with an average of €2.88/kg, and the average price per head was approximately €145. The top price of €180 was recorded for 63kgs ewe hoggets (€2.86/kg).

Other prices from the day:

• 58kg ewe hoggets, €177, €3.05/kg;
• 56kg ewe hoggets, €177, €3.16/kg;
• 51kg ewe hoggets, €144, €2.82/kg;
• 45kg mixed lambs, €127, €2.82/kg.

Cull ewes ranged from €66 to €204 per head with an average of €124 paid per head.

Cull ewes:

• 124kg made €204, €1.65/kg;
• 103kg, €172, €1.67/kg;
• 80kg, €144, €1.80/kg.

Baltinglass Mart

A “brisk selling” trade prevailed for ewes with lambs at foot on Baltinglass Livestock Mart on Saturday, May 27^th, 2023, according to a spokesperson who reported a top price of €280 for 2-year-old ewes with twin lambs at foot.

Ewes with lambs at foot ranged from €170 up to €280, while cast ewes pushed from €82 up to €148.

Hoggets and ewes suitable for early lamb production peaked at €161, while spring lambs maxed out at €165.

Sample Prices:

• 11 x 46kg made €165;
• 3 x 58kg made €164;
• 5 x 43kg made €128;
• 6 x 42kg made €125;
• 2 x 41kg made €122;
• 6 x 33kg made €110;
• 4 x 35kg made €101;
• 5 x 32kg made €80.

Carnew Mart

According to David Quinn, Thursday, May 25^th, 2023, saw a large sale for the time of the year with 2,500 head on offer at Carnew Mart.

The mart manager reported that “a very lively” trade prevailed throughout Thursday’s sale.

Spring lambs topped out at €185 for 51kg, while most factory-type spring lambs sold from €160 to €174 for 43-46kg and lighter spring lambs ranged from €140 to €155.

Meanwhile, cast ewes topped at €202 for heavy ewes.

Ewes with lambs at foot are “getting scarce”, with young ewes with twins from €230 to €278 and younger ewes with singles changed hands from €180-€220.