Some marts are reporting prices have gone up once again. This has been driven by strong factory and butcher demand for all well-fleshed hoggets.

Heavy butchers’ hoggets have edged up slightly, but only for better-quality well-fleshed types. Those over 50kg are selling from €108 to €113 at the upper end of the market, with reports of up to €118 being paid for small numbers of top-quality types.

Factory agent activity is strong, and some marts have reported slightly improved trades as a result. Hoggets from 45kg to 48kg are selling mainly from €102 to €108/head for average types, with better-conformed and well-fleshed types making over €112/head. Again, those lacking flesh are not being met with as strong of demand. These hoggets carrying a little less flesh are making from €92 to €96/head.

Store demand is fairly steady, with prices running at similar levels to last week. Hoggets from 37kg to 42kg are selling mainly from €84 to €90/head. Those from 34kg to 37kg are selling mainly from €75 to €89/head. Like last week, the highest prices are being paid for those carrying more flesh. Light store hoggets are a little more variable, but demand is said to be fairly steady.

Where in-lamb ewes are on offer, prices of €150 to €170/head were common for those carrying 1.6 to 1.8 lambs per ewe, with those carrying smaller litters making from €120 to €135/head.

In the North, Dunbia has quoted £4.15/kg, which is approximately €4.97/kg including VAT, on lambs up to 22kg. Linden supplied no quote.

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