Factory prices for slaughter fit hoggets have increased to 520p/kg, despite some processors trying to limit the upward price movement by holding quotes at 505p/kg.

However, with the live trade continuing to return a price of £110 to £125, factories have been left with little choice but to pay well above base quotes.

Supplies of hoggets have been under pressure in recent weeks with slaughter figures indicating that 5,729 animals were processed at NI plants last week, which is a drop of 420 head on the previous week.

Factory throughput is down by more than 700 head per week from the beginning of March. Along with lower throughput, there have been strong exports of factory-fit hoggets to slaughter plants south of the Irish border.

During March, sheep exports have been above the 10,000 head per week mark.

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