Hoggets continue to make up the bulk of throughput, as spring lamb volumes remain low.

Prices are strong, with farmers securing up to €5.85/kg for quality in-spec lots.

Farmers in the west are securing €5.80/kg to €5.85/kg for hoggets, as factories actively compete for numbers, while, in the east, the higher prices are a little harder to come by.

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Over the past week, factories have been very keen for big numbers of fleshed hoggets to fill orders.

On the other hand, spring lamb prices are coming under pressure, as factories reduce base quotes.

Many farmers are securing up to €6.75/kg this week, but this is a reduction of 15c/kg to 20c/kg on last week’s prices.

Base quotes for spring lambs have fallen by 20c/kg to 30c/kg in some factories, while others have not quoted.

Moyvalley Meats tops the quotes, with an all-in quote of €6.50/kg, down from €6.80/kg last week and the Irish Country Meats plants are the lowest with a base quote of €6.20/kg, a 20c/kg drop.

Both Kepak and Kildare Chilling failed to quote for spring lambs.

However, for the first time in several months, Dawn Ballyhaunis shared its quotes with the Irish Farmers Journal, with a base quote of €6.40/kg for spring lambs.

Factories are pointing to reduced demand on the continent for lambs and a lack of interest among the customers they are supplying to switch over from hoggets.

Sticky French trade

The French trade is reported as sticky, with more domestic lamb coming on stream.

French Lacaune lamb is commanding priority and is trading from €6.00/kg for non-quality assured (QA) lamb to €7.00/kg for QA product.

Up to €8.00/kg has been reported as paid for premium-brand sheepmeat, such as French Label Rouge selling to €8.00/kg.

Irish spring lamb on the rungis market is reported as selling from €6.50/kg to €6.80/kg including VAT.

Low Northern activity

Northern plants continue low processing activity, with last week’s spring lamb and hogget kill at just 4,054 head.

Quotes are variable, with hoggets ranging from £4.15/kg to £4.30/kg in Dunbia Dungannon (equivalent €5.38/kg to €5.57/kg including VAT). Spring lambs are quoted across all plants at £4.60/kg (€5.96/kg).

Northern sheep remain an important source of throughput for southern plants, with 5,589 imported south for direct slaughter in the last.

The British trade has come under some downward pressure, with hoggets easing 5p/kg to average £4.20/kg to £4.22/kg (€5.44/kg to €5.47/kg). There are signs of recovery as some plants struggle to fill orders at this price level.