Noticeably stronger trade for all classes of sheep at Markethill Mart

Good quality midweight hoggets sold steadily from 520 – 577p/k for 18 hoggets, 20.3k at £117 each from a Ballinderry farmer, followed by 556p/k for 20.5k at £114 from a Cullyhanna producer. A Portadown producer received 545p/k for 28 hoggets, 22.9k at £125.

Several pens of heavy hoggets sold from £135 to £150 each.

The entire entry of heavy hoggets averaged £133 per head. Top rate of 551p/k, 26.5k at £146 from a Ballynahinch farmer, followed by 536p/k for 28k at £150 from a Ballynahinch producer.

Stores sold to 574p/k for 18.2k at £104 from a Ballinderry farmer, followed by 546p/k for 19.8k at £108 from an Armagh farmer.

180 cull ewes sold to a top of £250.

Main demand from £120 to £225 each.

The first sale of breeding ewes for this season returned an exceptionally strong demand with ewes with doubles selling to £320 each, with others at £305, £300, £290 and £280.

Several more doubles sold from £220 to £250 each.

Main demand from £180 to £210.

In lamb ewes sold to £160 each.

Heavy hoggets

Ballynahinch producer 26.5k £146 551p/k: 28k £150 536p/k: Armagh producer 24.6k £129.50 526p/k: Armagh producer 25.4k £131.50 518p/k: Poyntzpass producer 26k £134 515p/k: Armagh producer 25k £128.50 514p/k: Glenanne producer 24.4k £125 512p/k and Portadown producer 24.8k £126 508p/k.

Midweight hoggets

Ballinderry producer 20.3k £117 577p/k: Cullyhanna producer 20.5k £114 556p/k: Portadown producer 22.9k £125 545p/k: Glenanne producer 23.1k £124.50 539p/k: Poyntzpass producer 23.6k £127 538p/k: Tandragee producer 22.8k £122.50 537p/k: Markethill producer 23.2k £124 535p/k and Tynan producer 23.6k £125.50 532p/k.

Stores

Ballinderry producer 18.2k £104.50 574p/k: Armagh producer 19.8k £108 546p/k: Poyntzpass producer 18k £96 533p/k: Armagh producer 18.3k £94.50 516p/k: Armagh producer 18.3k £94 514p/k: Glenanne producer 17k £87 512p/k and Cullyhanna producer 17.8k £91 511p/k.