Hogget prices as the week has progressed have remained steady at some factories, but have weakened at others.

Base prices continue to range from €5.90-6.00/kg, however there has been some downward movement, with one western-based plant pulling 5c/kg off its price for today (Thursday, January 9) bringing it from €5.95/kg earlier in the week to €5.90/kg now.

At the start of the week, some factories had wiped 5-10c/kg off their base prices for hoggets and this further downward movement is another blow to producers ready to market hoggets.

Elsewhere, Kildare Chilling continues its quote of €6.00/kg plus a 10c/kg quality assurance (QA) bonus for hoggets. However, it did pull 10c/kg off it base last week for hoggets.

Irish Country Meats is also holding firm at a base of €5.90/kg plus a QA bonus of 20c/kg for today, however it had knocked 5c/kg off its base earlier in the week.

The base quotes on offer today are leaving prices for QA hoggets at €6.05-6.10/kg currently.

Prices at the top end of the market are remaining at the €6.20-6.30/kg mark in general, with deals 5-10c/kg above this being secured by producers, particularly where larger numbers are on hand.

The ewe trade however, remains steady as it did earlier in the week. Base quotes remain at €3.00-3.20/kg, with top prices hitting €3.50-3.60/kg.