Further improvement in sheep prices at Markethill

The 700 hoggets returned a firmer trade with heavy pens from £94 to £99.20 each.

Top rate of 397p per kilo was paid for 24.6 kilos at £98 each, followed by 395p for 24.7 kilos at £97.80 each. All good quality pens sold from 370p to 393p per kilo.

In all, 430 heavy hoggets averaged 26.4 kilos at £97.20 (368p).

Middleweight hoggets sold to 406p per kilo for 20.7 kilos at £84.20 each. Main demand sold from 370p to 396p per kilo.

Spring lambs sold from £90 to £106 each paid for 23kilos (461p). Top rate of 473p per kilo was paid for 22 kilos at £104 each.

The 320 cull ewes returned a very strong trade to reach £124 each. All good quality ewes sold from £85 to £122 each. Plainer ewes sold from £60 to £75 each.

In the breeding ring doubles sold to £242 with others at £240, £232 & £228. Several more sold from £180 to £202. Singles sold to £172 each with several more from £130 to £157 each.

HEAVY HOGGETS: Markethill farmer: 24.6k £98 397p: Whitecross farmer: 24.7k £97.80 395p: Newtownhamilton farmer: 25k £98.20 393p: Newtownhamilton farmer: 25.4k £99 390p: Tandragee farmer: 25.5k £97.80 384p: Collone farmer: 24k £92 383p: Markethill farmer: 24.4k £92.50 379p: Tandragee farmer: 25.6k £96.80 378p.

MIDDLEWEIGHT HOGGETS: Loughbrickland farmer: 20.7k £84.20 406p: Loughbrickland farmer: 21k £83.20 396p: Tandragee farmer: 22.2k £86.80 391p: Markethill farmer: 22.3k £87 389p: Portadown farmer: 23.2k £89 384p: Mayobridge farmer: 23.5k £89 379p: Markethill farmer: 22k £82 373p: Markethill farmer: 22k £82 373p: Tandragee farmer: 23k £85.50 372p.

SPRING LAMBS: Keady farmer: 22k £104 473p: Poyntzpass farmer: 22k £102 464p: Cortamlet farmer: 23k £106 461p: Camlough farmer: 21.3k £91.50 428p: Dromore farmer: 23.2k £98 423p: Portadown farmer: 23k £96 417p.