Hogget prices are holding static mostly in the marts. However, there is more negative pressure on heavy hoggets as the factory clamp-down on overweight carcases continues.

Fleshed factory hoggets weighing 46kg to 48kg are selling from €94 to €104/head. This trade is very variable, with some sales benefiting from stronger factory agent activity compared with others.

Higher prices are being paid for good-quality fleshed hoggets, with 48kg lots making up to €105/head, but these prices are more difficult to come by. Heavier lots weighing 50kg and over are a more varied trade, with most lots selling from €100 to €105/head.

Store hogget prices are stable, despite the price uncertainty this spring. Hoggets under 35kg are selling for €70 to €80/head, with heavier stores weighing 36kg to 40kg selling for €81 to €90/head. Forward store hoggets weighing 40kg-plus sold for €90 to €94/head.

Demand for cull ewes remains steady, with low numbers helping to bolster the trade. Factory-fit ewes are selling from €88 to €110/head. Top prices of €115/head were paid during the week for large-framed heavy fleshed ewes, a price unheard of for a number of months. Feeding ewes are selling for €60 to €80/head.

In-lamb ewes are becoming more plentiful in sales. Young ewes scanned in-lamb with twins are selling from €180 to €195/head, while older ewes carrying 1.5 lambs are selling from €130 to €160/head.

Ewes with lambs at foot sold from €235/head for three- and four-year-old ewes with twin lambs at foot, while aged ewes with single lambs sold from €145 per unit.