The sheep trade is starting the week in a relatively positive manner. Factories generally view the June holiday weekend as an opportunity to significantly pull price. Quotes have eased in some plants by 5c/kg, with firm demand helping to keep a floor under the trade. Returns will also be helped this week by plants starting to pay to 21kg carcase weight.

Base quotes vary from €5.75/kg to €5.90/kg. Deals completed over the weekend with producers or agents trading at the top end of the market range from €5.90/kg to €6.10/kg. The threat of further price cuts has not gone away, with some procurement agents continuing to talk to trade down but keen not to miss out on any deals and still willing to match current prices to secure sales.

Throughput for the kill of a fortnight ago was not available at time of going to print last week. The kill was boosted by strong demand for the Muslim religious festival of Ramadan and was recorded at 56,125 head. Lambs dominated throughput at 40,725 head. This is 10,744 head higher than the corresponding week in 2019. The lamb kill for the year-to-date was recorded at 122,519 head and is running 14,982 head above corresponding 2019 levels.

Tight supplies of hoggets

The tight supplies of hoggets in the market in recent weeks is reflected in hogget throughput recorded at just 7,817 head. This is less than half the figure of 16,193 head recorded in the corresponding week in 2019. Hogget throughput has been much tighter in recent weeks but the high kills at the start of the year mean the kill is still 51,864 head above 2019 levels.

In contrast, throughput of ewes and rams has been much tighter since the turn of the year. Numbers handled are recorded at 125,575 head, which is a reduction of 21,111 head on the corresponding period in 2019. Ewe quotes range from €2.50/kg to €2.70/kg. A significant number of ewes are trading from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg, with top prices 10c/kg to 15c/kg higher for select ewes.

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