Increased demand for all types of stock to put to the grass this year

Add in the reduction in fertiliser prices, which for grassland have fallen below £800 per tonne in some regions, and there is a bit more confidence in the sector in all areas of the country.

"There was nothing done for a fortnight in the north east because of the snow and cold winds, but the weather changed last week. Things have greened up nicely and there is a lot of crop through the ground now," John Angus, head of livestock at Aberdeen and Northern Marts, told The Scottish Farmer.

He added that recent grass let sales were dearer than expected with some producers looking to take additional ground rather than fork out extra money for fertiliser. As a result, Mr Angus said grass let values were up anything from £25-£100 per acre on they year, depending on location.

Such has been the demand for green ground that prices soared to £390 to include entitlement payment, with other packages of ground to £320 without entitlement. Most however were trading at £150-£250 without entitlements and without fertiliser.

The firm had also staged its first sale of ewes with lambs at foot of the season which met a keen demand for all classes of stock, and an average of £70.48 per life achieved.

Ewe and lamb prices have also picked up further south due to the better weather.

At Harrison and Hetherington's Borderway Mart at Carlisle, auctioneer Paul Gardiner pointed out that while there had been a slow start to the season, prices had improved this week due to the increase in grass growth.

"There has been a lot of uncertainty in the market due to the price of fertiliser but with grass now beginning to grow we're seeing a bit more confidence in the market," he said.

"At the first sales, two or three weeks ago, values would have been back £10-£15 per head on the year, but at our last sale on Monday they were up and on a par with 2021 prices. We had hoggs with single lambs making £110 per life, while older Texel ewes with twins were selling for £85-£86 and those with singles at £100.

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"Farmers remember how well sheep paid last year and now that the grass has come, there is a lot more interest in the job. There have not been the same numbers coming forward for sale, but then more people are looking to spread livestock numbers more evenly to cut back on their fertiliser costs."

Backing up those statements, Nick Woodmass, auctioneer at C and D Auction Marts, Longtown, pointed out that there are not the numbers being presented purely because many of the older ewes were not tupped last year and were instead sold finished when the cast trade was and remains so buoyant.

"The early ewe and lamb sales were acceptable, but they were not the flying trade they were last year but then a lot of producers are looking to reduce input costs.

Mr Woodmass added: "The grass has really come over this past week though which was reflected in the prices at our sale on Tuesday where older Texel, Suffolk and Mule ewes with lambs sold to average £84 per life and I would expect that to improve as grass growth continues.

Further south at CCM's Skipton Easter ewe and lamb sale on Monday, where 812 breeding sheep were forward, several consignments of gimmers and younger ewes sold to £300-plus for continental-bred outfits with twin lambs at foot.

Top price was £345 paid for Texel gimmers with twins from Peter and Alison Simpson, of Dacre, who sold other pens at £340 twice, £330, £325 and £320.

Continental gimmers with and single born lambs also sold to £340, while Cheviots with twins peaked at £270.

Older ewes with twins for farming out were trading at £180-£220 depending on quality, singles £130-£160, with few younger ewes with singles selling either side of £200.