April lift in hogget prices due to unusual supply trend and late lambs

WITH Easter demand over and done with, prices for spring lamb eased back this week at the factories, as supplies continued to increase slowly.

However, the late season for new lamb and the lack of any rush of supplies of hoggets on to the market has changed the traditional price pattern, and hoggets are still a strong trade, with some processors improving prices early this week.

It is very unusual to see a lift in hogget prices in April, but base prices early this week ranged from 406 back to 392 cent/kg (145p to 140p/lb) at the factories, after price movements ranging from a rise of 12 cent/kg (4p/lb) to a drop of 11 cent/kg (4p/lb), compared to a week earlier.