Hogget prices have jumped over the last week, with base quotes increasing by 40c/kg since last week.

This is an increase of €9 to €10/head for hoggets killing at maximum carcase weights.

The increase leaves producer groups and regular sellers trading in the region of €9.70/kg to €9.80/kg.

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There are some reports of €9.90/kg being paid at the top end of the market and sellers with strong negotiating power and handling large numbers digging in for a price of €10/kg.

The two Irish Country Meats (ICM) plants in Navan and Camolin are quoting a base of €9.40/kg plus 20c/kg quality assurance (QA) payment.

Dawn Meats has also changed its payment for QA sheep and has doubled the payment to 20c/kg. This leaves its hogget quote on a par with ICM. Ballon Meats is quoting €9.30/kg for hoggets.

Lamb trade

Lamb prices have edged upwards by 10c/kg. ICM and Dawn Kildare are offering a base of €9.90/kg plus 20c/kg QA, which puts QA lambs above €10/kg.

Agents continue to focus primarily on hoggets, but with numbers falling, there is a keener appetite for lambs, with top prices at €10.20/kg to €10.30/kg.

Payment terms are to 21kg carcase weight in the main, with some sellers with heavier lambs trying to negotiate hogget terms with varying success.

The tightness in supply is reflected in last week’s throughput falling by about 1,000 head to 36,737 despite the higher prices on offer. This comprises 29,834 hoggets, 2,025 lambs and 4,878 ewes and rams.

Ewe trade

The base quote for cull ewes is unchanged and ranges in the main from €5.30/kg to €5.50/kg.

Regular sellers are securing €5.50/kg to €5.60/kg, while reports indicate sellers handling large numbers of top-quality ewes are securing from €5.60/kg to €5.80/kg for ewes delivered to tight specifications.

Northern Ireland

Base quotes in Northern Ireland (NI) have increased, but at a lower rate of 10p/kg for hoggets. This leaves base quotes for Thursday at £8.40/kg (€9.66/kg) with the NI hogget price excluding VAT falling below Ireland for the first time in several weeks.

In contrast, the base quote for lambs is up 20p/kg to £9/kg to £9.05/kg (€10.35/kg to €10.41/kg).

The number of sheep exported to Ireland for direct slaughter last week was similar at 4,431 head, while numbers exported to Britain for direct slaughter increased by 270 head to 912.

Exports under the breeding and production certificate are not reported weekly, but remain high. The number of sheep exported under this category in March was recorded at greater than 16,000 head.

The Agriculture Horticulture Development Board reports the British hogget price falling by 17p/kg last week to average £8.53/kg (€9.92/kg).