Hogget prices continue to rise with prices of £150/head being paid in marts this week, up £3 to £5 on last week.

As supplies continue to tighten, good-quality meal-finished hoggets are making up to 650p/kg midweek at local factories as they look to keep pace with the live ring.

Buyers working for southern Irish processors are also extremely active. Irish plants are paying €7.50/kg to 23kg, making hoggets heading south worth €173, or a sterling equivalent around 640p/kg.

In the same week last year, as local marts were on the brink of closing ahead of a national lockdown, hogget prices were 480p/kg, which is down 170p/kg or £37 on current levels.

Cattle

The marts are also seeing growing demand for short keep cattle. As well as tighter supplies, processors are preparing for the Easter trade, and an expected lift in demand as restaurants and other food service outlets re-open across Britain next month.

Factory prices are holding firm on 382p to 388p/kg for most farmers selling in-spec cattle, but indications are that factory agents are keen to secure stock for the coming weeks.

Scotland

In Scotland, farmers have seen a significant lift in beef prices, which are up 18p/kg to a base of 398p/kg for R4L grades in just two weeks.

The sharp rise means steers and heifers are worth £70/head more than at the start of March.

Prime cattle supply appears to be tighter with 1.2% fewer killed so far this year compared to the same period in 2020. There has also been a shift to slaughtering younger cattle.

The hogget trade in Scotland is also showing little sign of let up. Abattoirs are paying 645p/kg for R grade lambs up to 21 kg. Prices should remain strong for the coming weeks as we approach Easter on 4 April and Ramadam on 12 April.