The spring lamb trade has had a positive start. Factory quotes are running 30c/kg to 40c/kg ahead of last year’s levels, but the main activity is at mart sales, where butchers and wholesalers are competing to have new-season lamb on the counter for the Easter weekend.

Much of the buying for the peak trade has been completed in recent days, with mart prices running about €10 to €15 ahead of last year.

Mart managers report the best quality butcher-type spring lambs, weighing 40kg to 45kg, selling from €90 to €100 over the weight, or from €130 to €145/head.

Cork Marts Corrin-Fermoy manager Sean Leahy said that they had a very good turnout of 300 spring lambs on Monday. Prices ranged from €77 to €100 over the weight.

“The best pen of springs averaging 45kg made €155 (€3.44/kg),” Leahy said.

“The main buyers for the lambs came from butchers and wholesalers. They were keen for spring lambs, but were also active to buy a number of hoggets in case supply of springs available came under pressure in the next couple of weeks,” he added.

Big numbers of spring lambs were out for the Easter trade in Tullow this week. Mart manager Eric Driver said two lots of spring lambs made €100 with the weight, while the majority of lambs averaged €90 to €96 with the weight. They had 350 lambs out in total.

Driver said: “There was strong butcher demand and demand from factory agents, but to a price.” One lot of spring lambs weighing 43kg made €143 (€3.32/kg) and a lot weighing 40kg made €140 (€3.50/kg).

At Athenry mart on Monday, one lot of very heavy spring lambs, weighing 55kg, sold for €154 (€2.80/kg). Mart manager Alan Barry said that spring lambs made €94 to €103 with the weight. He said they had 250 to 300 lambs on sale.

Butchers, wholesalers and some factory agents were the main buyers. All three groups reported continued demand for hoggets, but said the cull ewe trade remains remarkable, with heavy fleshed ewes selling from €100 all the way to €150 for the best-quality ewes.