Up to €8.30kg is available in the hogget trade this week, as producer groups are securing higher prices from factories.
Base prices for hoggets this week from factories are now standing at between €7.85-8.05/kg, with quality assured (QA) hoggets reaching €8.05-8.20/kg.
Producer groups are currently securing €8.20-8.30/kg this week, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) National Sheep Committee chair, Adrian Gallagher.
Base prices from factories one month ago were between €6.75-7/kg, showing an increase of between €1.10-1.30/kg.
A larger difference is seen when looking at base prices for hoggets 12 months ago, which ranged from €6.10/kg up to €6.50/kg, representing a difference of between €1.75-1.95/kg.
This is an increase of between €40.25-44.85/head on a 23kg hogget carcass.
Hogget and lamb prices
There is high demand for lamb as the Muslim festival of Ramadan commenced on Sunday, March 10, and buying is in full swing from the factories.
Kildare Chilling is quoting €8.00/kg, plus a 10c QA bonus up to 23kg for hoggets/lambs – a total of €8.10/kg.
They are offering €5.00/kg for light hoggets/lambs under 15kg, or those that are grading from an O2 to P1.
Irish Country Meats (ICM) moved its hogget price by 15c/kg up to a base price of €7.85/kg, plus a 20c/kg QA bonus, which is a total of €8.05/kg.
Other outlets are quoting €8.05/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus, bringing their price offerings up to €8.20/kg, and these are paying up to 23kg also.
Ewe prices
Kildare Chilling has offered €3.10/kg plus a 10c QA bonus for ewes from 23kg to 35kg, a total of €3.20/kg.
For ewes between 35kg to 43kg, Kildare Chilling offered farmers €3.30/kg plus a 10c QA bonus, a total of €3.40/kg for a better type ewe.
Ewes under 23kg and rams weighing up to 43kg are both being quoted at €2.50/kg by Kildare Chilling.
ICM is offering €3.40/kg for heavy ewes, while other outlets are offering €3.50/kg plus a 10c QA bonus for a ewe up to 35kg, a total of €3.60/kg.