Buying activity continues to focus around hoggets due to low volumes of spring lamb entering the market.
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Factory buyers and wholesalers continue to focus their attention on hoggets in mart sales. Volumes of spring lambs remain low and mart managers say buyers are reluctant to switch over to lambs over hoggets because the numbers may not meet the supplies required.
Some managers report that prices have eased by €2 to €3/head for spring lambs, but it is difficult to gauge any reduction given the low numbers entering sales. One mart manager believes it could be well into the month of May before the spring lamb trade takes off properly.
The general run of prices for well-fleshed 40kg lambs is €120 to €125/head. However, where flesh cover or quality is below par, prices have fallen back as far as €105/head for similar-weight lambs.
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Lambs weighing 43kg to 47kg are selling for €128 to €140/head, or up to €93 over the weight. Hogget prices remain strong, with those weighing 50kg+ selling from €128 to €145/head. One mart manager pointed out that some farmers are holding on to hoggets far too long, giving the example of 63kg hoggets only making €120/head. The heavier weights can limit buyer competition. Hoggets weighing 45kg to 50kg are selling from €118 to €132/head.
Well-presented hoggets weighing 40kg to 43kg sold from €105 to €115/head.
The general run of prices for medium-sized and fleshed cull ewes is €120 to €135/head. Large-framed and very well-fleshed ewes are making up to €140 to €150/head. One mart manager said prices are up €15 to €20 per unit for ewes with lambs at foot. Young ewes with two lambs at foot are selling for €190 to €255/unit. Young ewes with aged lambs at foot are selling up to €300/unit.
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Factory buyers and wholesalers continue to focus their attention on hoggets in mart sales. Volumes of spring lambs remain low and mart managers say buyers are reluctant to switch over to lambs over hoggets because the numbers may not meet the supplies required.
Some managers report that prices have eased by €2 to €3/head for spring lambs, but it is difficult to gauge any reduction given the low numbers entering sales. One mart manager believes it could be well into the month of May before the spring lamb trade takes off properly.
The general run of prices for well-fleshed 40kg lambs is €120 to €125/head. However, where flesh cover or quality is below par, prices have fallen back as far as €105/head for similar-weight lambs.
Lambs weighing 43kg to 47kg are selling for €128 to €140/head, or up to €93 over the weight. Hogget prices remain strong, with those weighing 50kg+ selling from €128 to €145/head. One mart manager pointed out that some farmers are holding on to hoggets far too long, giving the example of 63kg hoggets only making €120/head. The heavier weights can limit buyer competition. Hoggets weighing 45kg to 50kg are selling from €118 to €132/head.
Well-presented hoggets weighing 40kg to 43kg sold from €105 to €115/head.
The general run of prices for medium-sized and fleshed cull ewes is €120 to €135/head. Large-framed and very well-fleshed ewes are making up to €140 to €150/head. One mart manager said prices are up €15 to €20 per unit for ewes with lambs at foot. Young ewes with two lambs at foot are selling for €190 to €255/unit. Young ewes with aged lambs at foot are selling up to €300/unit.
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