Hogget supplies remain tight, with factory agents holding their own in competition with butchers, who, in cases, have reverted to buying more hoggets with spring lambs low in number and of variable quality.

The purchasing power of agents is reflective of the importance placed by factories on sellers handling large numbers.

Reports towards the end of last week and start of this week show factories very keen to tie into deals with specialist finishers for large batches.

Prices at the top of the market were reported anywhere from €6.40/kg to €6.60/kg, with deals also completed on carcase weight.

This had the desired effect of securing extra throughput, with last week’s sheep kill rebounding to the tune of 5,252 head and totalling 48,560.

This included 37,828, hoggets, 9,081 ewes and rams and 1,651 spring lambs.

Prices paid to sellers handling smaller numbers range on average from €6.25/kg to €6.35/kg.

Demand for spring lamb is more variable, with factories servicing orders and slow to switch over to handling higher numbers.

Quotes remain at €6.90/kg to €7.00/kg, with top prices rising to €7.20/kg or higher when producer bonuses are added in.

Factories again comment this week that the quality of spring lambs coming on stream is highly variable, with a significant number under-fleshed.

A number of procurement managers have stated that lambs killing with a poor fat cover will not receive the prices quoted.

While not as frequent a problem with hoggets, there are a small percentage of ewe hoggets that were not due to be drafted that are now moving to take advantage of the higher prices.

Sellers should note that there are more buyers sourcing ewe lambs to meet ANC stocking rates in marts and weigh up the most suitable sale avenue.

The lift in last week’s throughput was also aided by imports from Northern Ireland for direct slaughter rising from 4,751 to 6,920. Northern plants lifted prices to compete and this had the desired effect of helping to increase the kill of hoggets and spring lambs by about 1,000 head to reach 4,795, while the ewe and ram kill lifted from 227 to 519 head.

Quotes for this week range from £5.20/kg to £5.30/kg. Sterling has been fluctuating in recent days and at Wednesday’s exchange rate of 87p to the euro, this equates to €6.30/kg to €6.42/kg including VAT at 5.4%. LMC’s weekly report shows average hogget prices last week at £5.46/kg (€6.61/kg incl VAT), while British prices averaged £6.02/kg (€7.30/kg) although moves have since been taken to pull prices back.

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