There seems to be a two-tiered price system arising in the hogget trade currently, with quite a big fissure developing between prices paid to large finishers compared with farmers with small numbers to kill.

Large finishers are securing prices as high as €5.40/kg, while farmers with lower numbers are being offered prices as low as €5.00/kg for their finished hoggets. Prices paid are quite varied, with most farmers securing €5.20 to €5.30/kg for quality assured (QA) hoggets, while some non-QA batches are being held closer to the base quotes of around €5.00/kg.

Farmers willing to dig in or shop around are having varying levels of success negotiating the higher prices that are being paid to select suppliers.

In terms of official quotes, there has been no major change, with factories very slow to make a statement on an increased quote despite demand rising in the marts.

Moyvalley was the only sheep processor willing to take the jump and it increased its quote by 10c/kg to make an all-in quote of €5.40/kg. Ballon Meats remains on its all-in quote of €5.30/kg.

Of the main export plants, Kepak is offering the highest quote when quality assurance (QA) is taken into account. It is quoting €5.00/kg plus 15c QA, but this quote has not budged from what was offered last week.

Similarly, Irish Country Meats has failed to increase its base quote and remains on €5.00/kg (plus 10c QA). Kildare Chilling has not quoted for hoggets this week.

Factory agents have not denied that supplies are lower than normal, but they have been able to manage this issue by reducing the number of kill days per week. One agent argued that the trade for sheep has been difficult recently in their main markets, but said this will not be long changing in the lead-up to Easter. Official Department numbers show 32,284 hoggets/lambs were slaughtered last week, which is down 4% on the same period in 2018.

IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy said lamb supplies continue to tighten and factories are paying €5.40/kg to get stock. He said some feeders are holding out for more, with deals of €5.50kg

In the North, quotes are remaining at £4.20/kg (equivalent of €5.14/kg including VAT at 5.4%). The northern kill has dropped to just 3,586 hoggets and 505 ewes, with 6,509 sheep exported south.

Cull ewes

There is no change in the trade for cull ewes, with most farmers securing prices of €2.80/kg to €3.00/kg. Quotes are holding steady on last week’s levels of €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg. Numbers of ewes and rams were up slightly last week at 6,502 head compared with the previous week, but saw a 14% increase compared with 2018.

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Sheepwatch: prices starting to rise in the marts