The hogget trade may be heating up on the back of reduced supplies. Last week, quality assured (QA) hoggets were sitting at an all-in price of €5.10/kg. Prices have started moving upwards now, with €5.15/kg more freely available for QA lots and some producer groups have secured €5.20/kg for large quantities of inspec hoggets.

Spring lamb prices are steady, ranging from €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg, but the numbers of lamb being handled by factories remains low compared with hoggets. Quantities of spring lamb are moving upwards now, with the kill at 3,840 head, but it is still way behind the same period last year (back 21%).

Kepak Athleague failed to quote for spring lambs this week, while the remaining plants’ quotes range from €5.90/kg to €6.00/kg. Hogget numbers were surprisingly strong last week at 36,969 head, an increase of 6,317 head on the same period last year.

However, numbers are expected to decline rapidly and factories could be seeing this decline already. This may be generating the price boost.

Of the main export plants, Kildare Chilling has held its hogget quote at €5.00/kg and Kepak Athleague has increased its quote by 5c/kg to a base of €4.85/kg. Irish Country Meats continues with the lowest base of €4.80/kg and Dawn Meats has failed to quote for a second consecutive week.

IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey said hogget numbers were now tightening rapidly. He said the Muslim festival of Ramadan is much earlier this year and commences on 27 May.

In addition, the Bord Bia main-season promotions will kick-in in early June, providing a strong boost for the domestic market.

Cull ewe quotes are coming under some pressure this week, as factories ease back their bases. Irish Country Meats and Kepak have eased their quotes by 10c and 5c/kg respectively to a base of €2.70/kg. Farmers are securing €2.80/kg to €2.95/kg for fleshed ewes, with dealers higher.

The lamb market in France is stable. Irish hoggets are holding firm and Irish spring lambs are starting to become more available.

Irish spring lambs are putting pressure on the French market and are reported to be trading around €6.20/kg. UK spring lambs are quoted slightly higher at €6.50/kg. There is less Spanish lamb going into the south of France.

Demand is expected to rise in advance of the many upcoming French bank holidays in the coming weeks.

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