The week following the Easter break has traditionally witnessed a tug of war on prices. While some factories began the week talking the trade down, plants are now having to renew their higher quotes in response to tighter supplies.
As such, factory quotes remain largely unchanged, with Kildare Chilling actually increasing its base hogget quote by 10c/kg to €6.00/kg.
Prices paid range on average from €6.05/kg to €6.10/kg, while specialist finishers and dealers handling large numbers continue to secure 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher prices.
Some plants have also raised paid carcase weight limits to 24kg to secure deals, but, in general, most are trying to hold firm at a 23kg to 23.5kg carcase weight price cut-off.
Hogget supplies are said to be tighter as a result of producers pushing out higher numbers for the Easter trade.
This was reflected in last week’s strong kill of 58,440, which was up 3,618 on the previous week.
The spring lamb kill reduced from 1,953 head to 1,784 and is also demonstrating how tight supplies of spring lambs are.
The average of the last three weeks’ kill is over 57,000 head and this is the driver of the yearly kill running 33,053 above 2017 levels.
Demand for spring lambs is variable, with most plants working with regular suppliers to fill orders and not yet giving a general quote, with the exception of Moyvalley Meats.
Prices paid range in general from €7.00/kg to €7.20/kg, with some buyers offered lower quotes at the start of the week.
Plants are also more anxious for ewes and this is also reflected in last week’s ewe and ram kill rising by 1,954 head to 8,208. Quotes range from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, but regular sellers are having more success in securing higher prices, with top prices rising to €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg.
Northern trade
Northern plants also moved to ease prices back at the start of the week.
Quotes for Thursday are 5p/kg to 10p/kg lower at a base of £4.95/kg to £5.00/kg.
This is the equivalent of €5.66/kg to €5.71/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €5.97/kg to €6.02/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Buyers purchasing on behalf of southern plants have resumed strong activity and this is forcing agents for northern plants to lift their quotes to compete.
At the higher end of the market, specialist producers continue to secure returns of £5.10/kg to £5.20/kg (€6.15/kg to €6.26/kg including VAT).
Spring lamb demand is also variable, with quotes of £5.80/kg (€6.99/kg) reported.
British prices received another lift in the run-in to Easter, with the AHDB reporting last week’s prices rising by an average of 7.5p, with R3L hoggets selling on average for £5.42/kg (€6.53/kg).
Read more
Spring lamb supplies tight in marts
Shorter kill week holding cattle trade steady
The week following the Easter break has traditionally witnessed a tug of war on prices. While some factories began the week talking the trade down, plants are now having to renew their higher quotes in response to tighter supplies.
As such, factory quotes remain largely unchanged, with Kildare Chilling actually increasing its base hogget quote by 10c/kg to €6.00/kg.
Prices paid range on average from €6.05/kg to €6.10/kg, while specialist finishers and dealers handling large numbers continue to secure 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher prices.
Some plants have also raised paid carcase weight limits to 24kg to secure deals, but, in general, most are trying to hold firm at a 23kg to 23.5kg carcase weight price cut-off.
Hogget supplies are said to be tighter as a result of producers pushing out higher numbers for the Easter trade.
This was reflected in last week’s strong kill of 58,440, which was up 3,618 on the previous week.
The spring lamb kill reduced from 1,953 head to 1,784 and is also demonstrating how tight supplies of spring lambs are.
The average of the last three weeks’ kill is over 57,000 head and this is the driver of the yearly kill running 33,053 above 2017 levels.
Demand for spring lambs is variable, with most plants working with regular suppliers to fill orders and not yet giving a general quote, with the exception of Moyvalley Meats.
Prices paid range in general from €7.00/kg to €7.20/kg, with some buyers offered lower quotes at the start of the week.
Plants are also more anxious for ewes and this is also reflected in last week’s ewe and ram kill rising by 1,954 head to 8,208. Quotes range from €3.00/kg to €3.10/kg, but regular sellers are having more success in securing higher prices, with top prices rising to €3.25/kg to €3.35/kg.
Northern trade
Northern plants also moved to ease prices back at the start of the week.
Quotes for Thursday are 5p/kg to 10p/kg lower at a base of £4.95/kg to £5.00/kg.
This is the equivalent of €5.66/kg to €5.71/kg at 87.5p to the euro and €5.97/kg to €6.02/kg including VAT at 5.4%.
Buyers purchasing on behalf of southern plants have resumed strong activity and this is forcing agents for northern plants to lift their quotes to compete.
At the higher end of the market, specialist producers continue to secure returns of £5.10/kg to £5.20/kg (€6.15/kg to €6.26/kg including VAT).
Spring lamb demand is also variable, with quotes of £5.80/kg (€6.99/kg) reported.
British prices received another lift in the run-in to Easter, with the AHDB reporting last week’s prices rising by an average of 7.5p, with R3L hoggets selling on average for £5.42/kg (€6.53/kg).
Read more
Spring lamb supplies tight in marts
Shorter kill week holding cattle trade steady
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