Ramadan is helping to keep a floor under prices as we approach the May bank holiday. Farmers are being paid prices of €5.35/kg to €5.50/kg for the most part. Some specialised feeders are securing up to €5.60/kg for large batches of hoggets.

There are reports that factories are more prepared to bargain on price for light hoggets that are more likely to meet their customer’s specifications.

It is fair to say that they have very little appetite for heavy hoggets, with one factory cutting €1.20/head off the end price of every hogget killing out over 25kg. There has been very little change in the quotes since last week, with the odd exception. For example, Kildare Chilling has started quoting for hoggets again – €5.30/kg for hoggets plus 10c quality assurance (QA).

Moyvalley increased its quote for hoggets by 10c/kg to an all-in price of €5.40/kg.

Spring lamb

Farmers are securing prices of €6.35/kg to €6.50/kg for spring lambs currently. But agents are having varying levels of success purchasing lambs at lower prices of €6.20/kg to €6.30/kg.

Farmers with lambs born in early- to mid-February should consider weighing lambs soon, especially if they are being offered creep feed. Lambs are thriving very well at the moment and there could be an opportunity to market these lambs at lower cost rather than waiting for weights to creep up.

In terms of quotes, Kildare Chilling is leading when comparing the main export plants with its quote of €6.30/kg (plus 10c QA). Moyvalley is quoting an all-in price of €6.40/kg.

The number of spring lambs being slaughtered is relatively strong compared with the same period last year (up 2,252 head).

Speaking at the IFA meeting in Mullingar this week, national sheep committee chair Sean Dennehy said the low quotes from the factories and the gap with real paid prices were making a mockery out of factory quotes.

NI

The number of sheep imported south for direct slaughter last week dropped to just 3,072 head, a reduction of 2,345 on the previous week. It is not surprising given the day’s less processing.

Northern quotes have reduced 10p/kg with returns for spring lambs dropping under £5.00/kg and reported at £4.90/kg, the equivalent of €5.70/kg at 85.9p to the euro and €6.01/kg including VAT at 5.4%. British prices have also eased by a similar figure but demand is forecast to stabilise in the coming week.

Ewes

Factories are anxious for ewes and agents are scouring marts for any fleshed ewes available. Prices paid range from €3 to €3.20/kg for good-quality types.

Read more

Sheep Watch: cull ewe prices strengthening