Store and finished lambs continue to face a more challenging trade in mart sales. In the southeast and east of the country demand for stores is being hit by a lack of grass growth, while ongoing pressure on finished lamb prices is also taking its toll.

Good-quality and well-presented lowland store lambs are selling in the main from €3.40/kg to €3.60/kg, with choice lots including batches of better-quality ewe lambs selling to €3.70/kg to €3.80/kg.

Top-quality ewe lambs are selling around the €4/kg to €4.20/kg mark, with prices in cases easier than the corresponding period in 2025.

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Lesser-quality store lambs which are lacking flesh cover are selling from €3.10/kg to €3.30/kg, with crossbred lambs selling from €3.20/kg to €3.40/kg.

Hill lambs are holding in most cases above the €3/kg mark, with firm demand for ewe lambs.

Prices paid for heavier lambs are dependent on flesh cover. The general run of prices for lambs weighing over 50kg ranges from €174 to €180 as the week progresses, although some top-quality types are exceeding this price.

Lambs weighing 45kg to 47kg are trading from €160 to €170 for well-fleshed types, with lesser-quality lots around the 45kg mark back to €150 to €155.

Cull ewes are steady, with the best-quality lots continuing to trade from €2.40/kg to €2.70/kg. Ewes with a lower cover of flesh are selling back to €2.20/kg with some feeding-type ewes selling from under the €2/kg mark for crossbred and lighter-framed types to over €2/kg for ewes capable of achieving a good thrive.

Hill ewes are steady, with ewes capable of delivering a heavier carcase selling to over €2/kg while lighter types and those with an average cover of flesh are selling back to €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.

Numbers of ewe hoggets are increasing rapidly, with many marts holding special sales to kick start the trade. Top-quality hoggets are trading from €280 to €330 on average, with select lots to €350 and higher.

Medium-sized lots are selling back to €250 per head, with some lighter hoggets requiring a period of feeding before joining with rams selling back to €200 to €220/head.