The hogget trade continues to reach new heights for the time of year with prices running €16 to €20 higher than the corresponding period in 2020.

Farmgate factory prices have moved upwards by 5c/kg to 10c/kg in the last week and are now in the region of €6.50/kg to €6.80/kg depending on producer negotiating power.

This leaves a hogget delivering a 23kg carcase returning a price ranging from €149.50 to €156. Domestic sales of sheepmeat are performing strongly, with a marked recovery in sales in the butcher and wholesale markets. A strong appetite has driven prices for top-quality butcher-type lambs to increase to €160 and higher in isolated cases this week.

The kill figure for the year to date, however, is running 27,258 head, or 8%, lower than the comparable period in 2020.

Last week’s increase in price had the desired effect of attracting higher numbers on to the market with throughput increasing by 4,662 head to reach 46,359 sheep.

The kill figure for the year to date, however, is running 27,258 head, or 8%, lower than the comparable period in 2020.

It is not just Irish sheep farmers enjoying buoyant market performance. The latest Bord Bia data for the week ending 13 February shows French hogget prices of €6.97/kg running 52c/kg higher than the corresponding week in 2020.

The British price of €6.79/kg is some 88c/kg higher while the Northern Irish price is also excelling and at €6.23/kg is running over €1/kg higher. Meanwhile, Spanish prices at €5.77/kg are 38c/kg higher.

Prices in Northern Ireland have increased by 5p/kg to 15p/kg

Tight supplies in EU markets continue to be influenced by lower imports of New Zealand lamb with volumes entering the EU following the trend of 2020 whereby New Zealand only filled 46% of its tariff-free quota of 254,227t.

Prices in Northern Ireland have increased by 5p/kg to 15p/kg with farmgate returns running 90p/kg to £1/kg above the corresponding week in 2020. Base quotes are £5.70/kg and with sterling trading at 85.9p to the euro this equates to €6.37/kg.