Sheep marts: Hogget prices continue upward surge

Prices were once again on the rise last week at sheep sales across the country, with mart managers reporting prices lift as much as €5-10/head at some sales.

Butcher and factory-type hogget prices continue to reach new heights, with mart managers noting a strong number of ewe hoggets being brought forward for sale.

Some top prices at sales last week for hoggets reached as high as €180/head, as seen at Dowra Mart, with other top prices at marts hitting over the €170/head mark, with these higher prices seen more towards the tail end of last week.

Also Read: ‘It was the best trade I’ve seen for sheep ever’

The general run of prices for good quality 50kg plus hoggets generally ranged from €158/head up to €171-172/head, with lesser quality types selling back to €150-151/head.

A high percentage of well-fleshed, good-quality quality hoggets in the 47-49kg bracket have been selling to as high as €160-164/head at some sales, with the general run of prices going from €150/head upwards.

45-46kg hoggets are generally selling upwards of €140/head, with very good quality lots reaching highs of €150/head.

40-44kg hoggets have been moving anywhere from €120/head up to €140-145/head.

Heavy cull ewes continue to sell strongly, with some mart managers reporting lifts in prices for both heavy and light cull ewes. The general run of prices for heavy cull ewes range from €125/head up to €145/head, with some well-fleshed ewes selling to highs of €150-160/head in places.

In-lamb ewes have been selling from €75-80/head for horned ewes up to €180-190/head for better-quality lowland types.

The trade for ewes with lambs at foot continues to trade strongly. Ewes with single lambs at foot have been selling to highs of €260-280/unit generally.

Ewes with single lambs have sold up to €180-200/unit, with some exceptional lots rising to €240-250/unit, as seen at Kingscourt Mart last week.

Enniscorthy Mart

Kevin Murphy of Enniscorthy Mart reported a larger entry of sheep at last week’s sale (March 10) with prices continuing to rise rapidly.

Finished hoggets were up anywhere from €6-10/head again last week with factory-type hoggets getting the biggest lift. Cull ewes also got a massive lift in price of up to €10/head, Kevin said.

There is a huge demand for all types of finished hoggets with factory agents competing very strongly with local butchers and wholesale butchers for the heavier butcher-type hoggets.

Prices ranged from €163/head for 51kg up to the highest price of the day of €169/head for 68kg hoggets, with a standout price on the day of €166/head paid for 13 hoggets weighing 50kg.

Sample butcher hogget prices:

18 at 58kg sold for €168/head or €2.89/kg;
13 at 50kg sold for €166/head or €3.32/kg;
18 at 54kg sold for €165/head or €3.05/kg;
22 at 50kg sold for €164/head or €3.28/kg;
14 at 53kg sold for €164/head or €3.09/kg;
12 at 51kg sold for €163/head or €3.19/kg.

Factory hoggets saw the biggest lift of the day at Enniscorthy, with prices ranging from €146/head for 45kg up to another standout price of €164/head for 49kg hoggets.

Kevin added that factory agents are very keen for all types of finished hoggets as supply remains very scarce.

Sample factory hogget prices:

17 at 49kg sold for €164/head or €3.34/kg;
Eight at 48kg sold for €161/head or €3.35/kg;
17 at 48kg sold for €162/head or €3.37/kg;
10 at 47kg sold for €159/head or €3.38/kg;
13 at 47kg sold for €155/head or €3.29/kg.

Kevin said that there are still a few store hoggets going through the ring and they are seeing a big lift in prices with farmers still taking a chance on those lighter types. They ranged from €121/head for 38kg up to €144/head for 43kg.

Sample store prices:

Nine at 43kg sold for €144/head or €3.34/kg;
10 at 43kg sold for €143/head or €3.32/kg;
Nine at 37kg sold for €128/head or €3.45/kg;
Five at 43kg sold for €140/head or €3.25/kg;
Three at 42kg sold for €139/head or €3.30/kg.

Cast ewes were up €10/head on prices the week before which lead to a lively trade for both heavy and light ewes.

Heavy cull ewes reached a top price of €159/head, with others breaching the €150/head mark on a few occasions.

Manorhamilton Mart

Hogget prices were once again on the rise at Manorhamilton Mart on Wednesday last (March 10). A top price of €177/head was paid for a pen of 56kg hoggets.

A lively trade was also seen for stores. Heavy cull ewes sold up to €149/head, with light store ewes selling back to €64/head.

A strong trade for ewes with lambs at foot was seen. Ewes with single lambs traded from €150/unit up to €182/unit, while ewes with twin lambs at foot made from €190/unit up to a top price of €265/unit.

A selection of in-lamb ewes were also on offer last Wednesday. Horned ewes carrying single lambs sold from €75/head up to €116/head, while crossbred ewes made from €110/head up to €189/head.

Sample hogget prices: