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The sheep trade continues to strengthen in NI this week, as processors on both sides of the Irish border compete for a limited pool of slaughter-fit hoggets.
In local marts, heavy-fleshed hoggets weighing 26kg to 28kg half-weight passed the £100 mark, with the main run selling from £96 to £98 per head.
Buying agents working for southern Irish plants have been extremely active in securing numbers and are paying leading prices.
With southern plants offering €5.20/kg to €5.25/kg earlier this week to 23kg, this converts to a sterling equivalent of 443p/kg.
As a result, local factories have increased their base quotes to 430p/kg, which at the 22kg carcase limit makes a hogget worth £94.60.
Farmers report that deals of 5p to 10p/kg over base price are available. Fat ewes are also an improving mart trade, selling to £100.
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