Sheep marts: Hogget prices top €180/head at some sales

Hogget prices were once again on the rise last week, with top prices for good-quality hoggets hitting highs of €180/head.

In general, the best of the hoggets on offer last week at marts sold from €170/head upwards, with top prices at sales ranging from €172/head up to the €180/head mark.

Mart mangers noted hoggets that were 50kg plus but maybe of lesser-quality or lacking flesh, were that bit easier and were selling back to €159-160/head.

The general run of prices for hoggets in the 45-49kg weight bracket were from €145/head up to €170/head, with top-quality 48-49kg lots breaking the €170/head mark on some occasions.

41-44kg hoggets ranged in price from €120/head up to €145/head in general, depending on quality, with some 43-44kg lots making €145-150/head.

The cull ewe trade continues to gain momentum, with prices for fleshed ewes – upwards of 90kg – hitting highs of €155-170/head. Although, in general, prices for those heavy ewes ranged from €130/head up to €150/head.

A dispersal sale of 158 ewes with 226 lambs at foot took place last Thursday (March 18) at Carnew Mart, which saw prices reach €274/head.

Prices ranged from €183/unit for a pen of 11 broken-mouthed Cheviot-cross ewes with 12 lambs at foot, up to €274/unit for 10 ewes consisting of hoggets, two and three-year-olds with 17 lambs at foot.

Also, at Carnew on Thursday, a smashing price of €350/unit for four ewes with eight lambs at foot was seen, with the general trade for ewes with lambs at foot very good across sales last week.

Dowra Mart

Dowra Mart held its weekly sale of sheep on Friday last (March 19). The mart’s manager, Terry McGovern, reported a bigger sale of sheep, with prices once again up on the previous week.

Heavy hoggets made from €170/head up to a top price of €180/head for a pen of 10 weighing 56kg.

The general run of prices for the factory hoggets ranged from €146/head to a top of €177/head.