Prices remain static in the marts for hoggets which is consistent with the static factory prices. Sale numbers are reportedly small resulting from lower factory agent activity.

Mart managers say there is no change on factory hogget prices, where hoggets weighing 47kg to 49kg are making €95 to €103/head, or €48 to €54 over the weight.

Where sales were small, butchers were active. Heavier hoggets weighing in excess of 50kg with a good cover of flesh saw a slight improvement in price. These hoggets were making €102 to €106/head, or €54 to €60 over the weight.

However, with a factory clampdown on overweight hoggets, agents are not showing as much interest in heavier lots. Without butchers, the heavy hogget trade remained depressed.

Store hoggets weighing 38kg to 44kg are selling for €77 to €93/head, or €39 to €49 over. Lighter hoggets weighing 33kg to 37kg are selling for €70 to €75/head. Cull ewe numbers in the marts are very low also. Fleshed ewes are selling for €90 to €112/head and feeding ewes are making €60 to €88/head.

Numbers of in-lamb ewes being brought to sales remains low. One mart manager said he suspects a lot of ewes will hit marts soon from phone calls he has received from farmers with ewes to sell who are trying to gauge the trade. Young good-quality ewes scanned in-lamb are selling for €160 to €200/head. Older lots, depending on quality, are making €110 to €150/head.