Easter may well be over, but old season lamb prices remain buoyant and are actually improving in the face of reduced supplies. 
Add to that, a cracking trade for ewes and lambs and the sheep job looks a lot more positive than it did a few months ago.
With little if any winter to speak of and much more grass than normal at this time of year in many areas, more people are looking for grazing sheep according to Harrison and Hetherington sheep auctioneer, David Fearon, who is based at Carlisle.
“There are more people looking for sheep, but then there is a lot more grass compared to last year,” he said, pointing out that some ewes with lambs at foot were £8-£10 per head up on the year, earlier in the season, with many still showing a £4-£5 per head improvement on the last 12 months.
Surprisingly, the older types of ewes are just as dear as the younger sheep too, although he pointed out that it was a pure Texel gimmer with single cross-bred lamb at foot that had topped this season’s trade at £97 per head.
It’s a similar situation further east, where Archie Hamilton, sheep auctioneer at Cumberland and Dumfries-shire Farmers’ Mart, at Longtown, said there was a ‘fantastic trade for ewes and lambs due to the abundance of grass in the area.’
He also said buying into such a market is a much cheaper alternative than purchasing dear store cattle to put out at grass.
“There is definitely enthusiasm in the sheep market and for quality ewes with strength of lambs. At  Tuesday’s sale we sold 500 head, including cast ewes, gimmers and lambs to average £55.96 per life, whereas that same sale last year saw 250 head balance out at £50.27.” 
Demand for ewes and lambs is equally buoyant in the North, in Aberdeenshire, where grass is less plentiful. 
“Prices are every bit as dear as they were last year and the grass has been slow to come in this area,” said Colin Slessor, Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ sheep auctioneer at Thainstone.
“Numbers have been slow to come forward but they are coming now with many lots now selling at £80-£90 per life and a top of £100 per life for two Texel ewes with twin-born Beltex lambs at foot. Many cast Mule ewes with twin born Suffolk cross lambs are making £60 too,” he added.