Numbers of spring lamb being presented for slaughter is very low, with just 490 lambs killed last week, 82% back on this time last year.

Of course, at that time, there was increased demand for spring lamb due to an early Easter.

The incentive to market lambs as early is not there this year, with the bank holiday weekend falling on 16 April this time around.

Many farmers are holding back in the hope prices rise on the lead-in to Easter.

At the moment, factory base quotes are sitting at €5.90/kg to €6.10/kg for spring lambs. Most farmers are securing prices of €6.20/kg to €6.30/kg including bonuses.

This price is 40c to 50c/kg below last year’s returns, well below farmers’ expectations.

One factory procurement officer warned farmers against feeding on lambs in the hope of higher prices. He urged farmers to market their lambs when they are fit. He said feeding lambs after they hit target weight is a false economy and overweight lambs don’t fit their customers’ requirements.

Both Irish Country Meats and Kepak are holding their base for spring lambs at €6.00/kg to a weight limit of 20kg.

Kildare Chilling introduced its first quote of the year 10c/kg lower than the other two main export plants at a base of €5.90/kg and a lower weight limit of 19kg.

The trade for hoggets is holding steady after small gains last week. Most producers are securing €5.15/kg for hoggets including bonuses, with producer groups securing €5.20/kg and higher when transport is taken into account.

What Kildare Chilling lacked for in spring lambs, it made up for with its quote for hoggets. It increased the quote by 8c/kg to a base of €5.00/kg.

Both Kepak and ICM held quotes at a base of €4.90/kg and €4.95/kg respectively.

Dawn Meats quoted for hoggets after a short sabbatical with a base of €4.90/kg.

IFA national sheep chair John Lynskey said hogget supplies remain scarce, with factories offering from €5.15 to €5.30/kg to get numbers.

On spring lambs, ICSA sheep chair John Brooks said the spring lamb sector needs a minimum of €7.00/kg to make it viable.

Numbers of hoggets being exported from the north for direct slaughter in the south is sitting at 7,265 head.

This is over 1,500 head more than the same period last year. Base quotes for hoggets in northern factories are £4.05/kg (equivalent of €4.94/kg) with higher prices of £4.20/kg (€5.12/kg) to £4.25/kg (€5.18/kg) being paid.

Cull ewes are very much in demand. Base quotes are ranging from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg, but prices paid are higher.

Agents are securing €3.00/kg to €3.20/kg for good-quality lowland-bred sheep.