It has been a tough few weeks for sheep farmers right across the country, with factory prices for all types of stock plummeting.

However, going by reports and the quotes that are on offer, there seems to be a bit more bite entering the trade, with factories supposedly keen on getting their hands on anything they can get.

Prices for spring lambs, hoggets and ewes seem to have increased over the last few days, which is welcome news for farmers.

However, the quality of the hoggets that are being presented to the factory seems to be a problem. There are reports of “very mixed” end-of-the-line sheep coming in. This, in turn, seems to have put off factories quoting for these types over the last fortnight.

With Easter just around the corner, the hope is that prices will continue to rise – particularly in the case of spring lambs, with Ramadan just a few weeks away.

Last week, quotes were hard to come by, with some sheep processing facilities cancelling scheduled kills and prices for hoggets dropping back to as much as €5.00/kg.

Although this week, quotes seem to have recovered for hoggets, with reports of factories going toe-to-toe to try and source good-quality hoggets, with prices of up to €5.90/kg being reported. However, in general, farmers involved in producer groups are getting up to €5.70/kg for hoggets.

At the moment, spring lamb quotes are hovering around the €6.00/kg mark, with reports of farmers getting as much €6.40/kg in places. This is far from the €7.00/kg that farmers would have been hoping to get – at the very least.

Prices for cast ewes have also taken a heavy knock – over the last fortnight – with up to 50c/kg cut off base prices in most sheep processing facilities.

However, like the hoggets, prices for these seem to have recovered somewhat, with factories quoting between 250c/kg and 270c/kg for well-fleshed ewes.

Irish Country Meats (ICM) was not quoting for hoggets on Monday, April 6. Furthermore, Kepak Athleague was not quoting for spring lambs, hoggets or ewes on Monday, April 6.

Quotes

ICM (Monday quote) is offering a base price of 600c/kg + 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) for spring lambs.

Kildare Chilling (Monday quote) is offering a base price of 590c/kg + 10c/kg QA for spring lambs.

In terms of hoggets, Kildare Chilling (Monday quote) is offering 540c/kg + 10c/kg QA.

Finally, ICM and Kildare Chilling (Monday quote) are offering 250c/kg and 270c/kg + 10c/kg QA respectively for cast ewes.

Spring lamb quotes: 

  • ICM: 600c/kg + 10c/kg QA;
  • Kildare Chilling: 590c/kg + 10c/kg QA.

Hogget quote: 

  • Kildare Chilling: 540c/kg +10c/kg.

Cast ewe quotes: 

  • ICM: 250c/kg;
  • Kildare Chilling: 270c/kg + 10c/kg.

Throughput

During the week ending March 29, the number of hoggets processed decreased by 9,077 head and amounted to 41,089 head.

Cast (ewe and ram) supplies at the Department of Agriculture approved sheep export plants stood at 4,575 head – a decrease of 989 head – for the week ending March 29.

Week-on-week sheep kill supplies (week ending March 29):

  • Hoggets: 41,089 head (-9,077 or -18.1%);
  • Ewes and rams: 4,575 head (-989 or -17.7%);
  • Total: 45,666 head (10,068 or -18%).

Furthermore, overall supplies decreased by 10,068 head during the week ending March 29.

Data source: Department of Agriculture

Cumulative figures for the year to date have reached 652,660 head, which is an increase of over 90,000 head compared to the 2019 figure of 561,893 head.

Year-on-year sheep kill changes (week ending March 29):

  • Hoggets: 572,019 head (+102,656 or +22%);
  • Ewes and rams: 80,623 head (-11,901 or -13%);
  • Total: 652,660 head (+90,767 or +16%).