With peak buying for Easter gone by, factories are starting to take their foot off the pedal in terms of driving on price.

Hoggets still remain the focus for buyers because supplies are reasonably strong and agents say spring lamb numbers are still not strong enough to make the switch over.

The quotes this week are variable, with some of the larger export-orientated processors attempting to pull back their base prices.

Both Irish Country Meats and Kepak have reduced their quotes for hoggets by 10c/kg and 15c/kg respectively to a base of €4.80/kg.

On the other hand, Kildare Chilling and Dawn Meats held their quotes at €5.00/kg and €4.90/kg respectively.

On the ground, prices are coming under increased pressure. A combination of strong hogget supplies and less kill days with the approaching bank holiday weekend is feeding into the downward price pressure.

Farmers are being paid €5.10/kg for non-quality assured (QA) hoggets and €5.20/kg for QA lots, but agents are reluctant to buy too many in advance.

Producer groups have had some more success securing prices of 5c/kg on top of this range.

Spring lambs are a disappointing trade too. Larger numbers are being presented in factories now, but agents are not overly keen when there is a steady supply of hoggets available. The quotes remain largely unchanged at a base of €6.00/kg excluding bonuses.

Moyvalley Meats has an all-in quote of €6.20/kg and have made the switch-over entirely to spring lambs now.

Irish Country Meats is 10c/kg behind the rest at a base of €5.90/kg.

Prices for spring lambs is ranging from €6.10/kg to €6.20/kg, with prices of €6.30/kg more difficult to secure. This is despite UK spring lamb prices of £5/kg to £5.20/kg (€6.20/kg to €6.45/kg including VAT).

IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey said there is a major onus on the lamb factories to act responsibility at this critical time for the lamb trade.

He said it is incredible that in the lead-in to Easter, some factories are telling farmers who have produced high-quality spring lamb that they don’t want the stock.

Lynskey said with the high costs involved in Easter lamb, producers would need a price closer to €7.00/kg to leave a reasonable margin, particularly considering the heavier workload involved.

Cull ewes

The positive story for the cull ewe trade continues this week. Quotes are ranging from €2.70/kg to €2.90/kg. Farmers are securing prices of €2.95/kg to €3.20/kg.

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