There is finally more life in the hogget trade after weeks of stagnant prices. Supplies of hoggets may be starting to tighten and this is helping to boost prices.

Factories are offering farmers prices of €4.75/kg for quality assured (QA) lots and €4.65/kg for non-QA hoggets. However, where farmers have bargained hard, prices of €4.80/kg are being negotiated.

Producer groups have had success this week securing prices of €4.80/kg to €4.90/kg and higher for hoggets when bonuses are taken into account.

Up to last week, kill numbers have been very strong, with a total weekly kill of over 50,000 head. Last week’s kill was up a massive 23% compared with the same week last year.

However, reports suggest that we could finally be getting through the higher numbers of hoggets that were in the system during the winter months.

Factory agents are starting to actively look for hoggets again and are keener for supplies. It is hoped this upward momentum will continue as we head into March, given the price differential compared to hogget prices this time last year.

The greater demand is slowly starting to convert to increases in factory base quotes. Kepak and Kildare Chilling have upped their quotes by 5c/kg and 10c/kg respectively this week to a base of €4.70/kg excluding bonuses.

Irish Country Meats has held its base quote at €4.60/kg (+10c QA). Ballon Meats and Moyvalley have also held their quote at last week’s levels.

IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey said farmers are negotiating prices ranging from €4.80 to €4.95/kg this week for lambs.

He said earlier in the week, numbers were tighter with less heavier lambs about. He said demand for ewes has picked up as the week progressed, with €2.70 to €2.80/kg being paid.

Cull ewes

There is greater demand for cull ewes, with farmers securing prices of €2.65/kg to €2.90/kg. Irish Country Meats leads with a quote of €2.60/kg, while the rest are quoting 10c/kg less at €2.50/kg.

The greater factory price is being reflected in the marts, where fit ewes are selling from €90 to €125/head.

The number of sheep imported south from the north were up 1,146 head compared with last week to a total of 8,751 head.

Up to now, the numbers coming south were reducing in recent weeks. Official northern quotes are at £3.70/kg (€4.59/kg) in the two main plants, with Dunbia Dungannon reducing its quote by 5p/kg. Farmers are securing £3.75/kg to £3.80/kg (€4.65 to €4.71/kg).