Tighter supplies see hogget prices hit €5/kg

Hogget supplies have tightened in recent days and as a result some farmers have been able to secure €5/kg for suitable stock.

In response to tightening supplies, the majority of plants have opted to increase base quotes and are starting negotiations with farmers from 480-490c/kg (including Quality Assurance bonuses).

And on the back of these higher quotes some farmers, particularly those involved in producer groups, have been able to secure prices of €5/kg or greater.

What are factories offering farmers?

Kepak Athleague leads the way when it comes to an all-in price and are currently offering farmers 490c/kg (485c/kg+10c QA). It is closely followed by Kildare Chilling, which is working off 485c/kg (475c/kg+10c QA).

Meanwhile, the two Irish Country Meats plants, in Navan and Camolin, are working off 480c/kg (470c/kg +10c QA) – an improvement of 10c/kg on last week.

Hogget prices:

Kepak Athleague: 485c/kg+10c QA
Kildare Chilling: 475c/kg+10c QA
ICM Camolin: 470c/kg+10c QA
ICM Navan: 470c/kg+10c QA

Moving on to ewe prices, procurement managers are starting negotiations with farmers at 250-260c/kg to secure suitably fleshed lots, but carcass weight cut-offs of 35-40kg are in place in some plants.

Main markets

According to Bord Bia, there has been little change reported in the British lamb trade this week, as the SQQ live price for lamb in England and Wales made the equivalent of around 446c/kg.

The French market remains slow, it says, on the back of reduced demand because of strong supplies of domestically-produced lamb available on the market.

Limited retail promotions have continued and were seen on legs in one main retailer.

Mart prices

Prices up in Tullow Mart

The sheep trade showed some signs of improvement in Tullow Mart on Tuesday as heavy hogget prices increased by €4-5/head.

Factory and butcher lots met with a brisk trade and lots weighing 48-56kg traded at €108-115/head, while store hoggets (+40kg) sold for €92-100 each.

Cast ewes continued to meet lively demand and feeding types weighing 60-80kg made €10-18 over and the heavier types sold up to a top price of €121.

In-lamb ewes sold for €140-190. Ewes with single lambs at foot made €140-185, while ewes with twin lambs at foot sold up to €225 per unit.

A good trade in Raphoe Mart

The good hogget trade continued in Raphoe Mart on Monday, with 52kg hoggets selling from €110 or €2.12/kg.

Sample lamb prices:

52kg: €110 or €2.12/kg
45kg: €108 or €2.40/kg
46kg: €104 or €2.26/kg
42kg: €96 or €2.29/kg
38kg: €94 or €2.47/kg
33kg: €80 or €2.42/kg

Moving on to the ewes, lots with a single lamb at foot sold for €140-190, doubles traded for €200-270, while the cast ewes on offer made €60-125/head.

A livelier trade in Kilkenny

There was more life in the sheep trade in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill, on Monday as a top price of €114 was achieved for hoggets on a number of occasions.

There was a somewhat bigger sale with some 450 sheep passing through the ring, where pedigree Suffolk cull ewes reached a top price of €131.

Butcher hoggets sold for €102-114/head or €2.02-2.12/kg, factory lambs traded from €90-101/head or €2.13/kg, while the lighter store lambs on offer made €75-91/head or €2.20-2.35/kg.

Sample hogget prices: