This week's sheep trade sees more positive news coming in the form of further price increases at factory outlets.

Official spring lamb factory quotes are now at €10/kg and conversations with farmers would indicate higher prices are being secured in some cases.

Meanwhile, at sheep marts around the country, spring lambs hit €290/head at Tullow Mart in Co. Carlow last week while fat ewe prices reached €396/head at Roscommon Mart last week.

Speaking to Agriland, Roscommon Mart manager Tony Conroy said the impressive price was paid for an entry of four fat ewes with an average weight of 103kg that achieved an impressive price of €3.84/kg.

An entry of 80kg hoggets sold for €272/head on the day also.

Sheep trade: Factory prices

This week, Kepak is quoting €8.85/kg plus a 15c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €9.00/kg on offer up to 23kg carcass-weight.

This price offer is up €1.10/kg in the past three weeks.

The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €5.20-€5.30/kg for cull ewes, up 80c/kg in the past three weeks.

Kepak is quoting €9.80/kg for spring lambs this week up to 20.5kg carcass-weight.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €8.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €9.00/kg on offer here up to 23kg carcass-weight.

This price offer is up €1.00/kg in the past three weeks.

The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlets are quoting €5.30/kg for cull ewes this week - a rise of 30c/kg since last Monday.

ICM is quoting €9.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs leaving €10.00/kg on offer here up to 21kg.

Kildare Chilling has no official quote for hoggets this morning (Monday, March 30), but farmer-supplier sources have told Agriland the outlet is paying over €9.10/kg for hoggets.

Kildare Chilling is quoting €5.00/kg plus a 10c/kg QA bonus for cull ewes from 35-43kg carcass-weight.

The outlet has no official quote for spring lambs but farmer sources say €10.00/kg and above is being paid at this outlet for spring lambs up to 20.5kg.

Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €9.00/kg for hoggets this week.

The outlet is quoting €5.40/kg for cull ewes this week.