A look back at mart reports from the corresponding period in 2025 paints a drastically different picture to the last week.
While prices were also under downward pressure in the final two weeks of January 2025, they turned a corner in the first week of February, initially steadying and then rebounding upwards.
The majority of mart reports had hoggets weighing upwards of 50kg exceed a price of €200/head, with top prices for heavy hoggets ranging from €205 to €215. This week’s mart price analysis shows a steadying in price, but at a much lower level.
A high percentage of marts have seen prices for hoggets weighing 50kg to 54kg range from €170 to €175 with select lots rising to €180/head.
In cases, such prices have been paid for heavier hoggets, but many mart managers note that prices for heavy hoggets in the absence of an active wholesale trade are similar to lighter lots.
The most positives at present is in demand for store lambs. While it has weakened slightly in some marts, it has not reduced to the same degree as finished lambs.
Good-quality lowland store are selling on average from €3.40/kg to €3.70/kg, with some lambs falling either side of this price range depending on quality.
Demand for lighter and well-presented hill lambs is also firm, with prices ranging from €3/kg to €3.35/kg.
Some choice lots of ewe lambs are topping this range, while small-framed lambs which will struggle to feed into weight are selling back under €3/kg.
There is no great change in the cull ewe trade. A price range of €2/kg to €2.10/kg is buying a significant percentage of heavy ewes weighing upwards of 85kg to 90kg.
The average price per kilo is slightly higher for lighter lots, ranging from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg.
Ewes with an average cover of flesh are typically selling from €1.80/kg to €2/kg, including hill ewes capable of killing at heavier weights.
Lighter-carcase fleshed ewes range from €1.30/kg to €1.70/kg, with ewes lacking significant flesh cover selling back to €1/kg and lower.
A look back at mart reports from the corresponding period in 2025 paints a drastically different picture to the last week.
While prices were also under downward pressure in the final two weeks of January 2025, they turned a corner in the first week of February, initially steadying and then rebounding upwards.
The majority of mart reports had hoggets weighing upwards of 50kg exceed a price of €200/head, with top prices for heavy hoggets ranging from €205 to €215. This week’s mart price analysis shows a steadying in price, but at a much lower level.
A high percentage of marts have seen prices for hoggets weighing 50kg to 54kg range from €170 to €175 with select lots rising to €180/head.
In cases, such prices have been paid for heavier hoggets, but many mart managers note that prices for heavy hoggets in the absence of an active wholesale trade are similar to lighter lots.
The most positives at present is in demand for store lambs. While it has weakened slightly in some marts, it has not reduced to the same degree as finished lambs.
Good-quality lowland store are selling on average from €3.40/kg to €3.70/kg, with some lambs falling either side of this price range depending on quality.
Demand for lighter and well-presented hill lambs is also firm, with prices ranging from €3/kg to €3.35/kg.
Some choice lots of ewe lambs are topping this range, while small-framed lambs which will struggle to feed into weight are selling back under €3/kg.
There is no great change in the cull ewe trade. A price range of €2/kg to €2.10/kg is buying a significant percentage of heavy ewes weighing upwards of 85kg to 90kg.
The average price per kilo is slightly higher for lighter lots, ranging from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg.
Ewes with an average cover of flesh are typically selling from €1.80/kg to €2/kg, including hill ewes capable of killing at heavier weights.
Lighter-carcase fleshed ewes range from €1.30/kg to €1.70/kg, with ewes lacking significant flesh cover selling back to €1/kg and lower.
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