Tullow Mart in County Carlow hosted its weekly sheep auction on Tuesday 24 March with a “strong opening” for spring lamb prices on the day.
talking to Agriland After the sale, market manager Eric Driver said 38kg spring lambs were fetching €278 a head while up to €288 a head were paid for 44kg lambs.
“This trade was driven by wholesale customers and local butchers,” Driver said.
Commenting on the pig trade, Driver said it had “remained just as strong”, with up to €236 a head being paid for pigs.
Piglets weighing 48-55kg sold briskly, fetching €210-230 a head, while the cast ewes trade “stepped up the pace”, with heavy ewes selling for up to €290 a head while salted ewes weighing 70-85kg sold for up to €3.20 a kilo.
The market manager said: “The positive atmosphere in the ring is warmly welcomed by farmers after very restricted trade during the past months.”
dispersion
Tullow Mart is set to host a scattering sale for a flock of 230 ewes on Tuesday 31 March at 1:00pm.
The ewes are described as Suffolk/Continental crossbreds screened in lamb and carrying 2.1 lambs/ewe to Charolais and Texel rams.
These ewes are scheduled to lamb from April 1.
The driver said: “These ewes are coming to the paddock in great shape after overwintering.
“The sale is the sale of a whole lot of pigs to whole-mouthed ewes.”
