20% supply slump pushes hogget prices

IT has been a mixed week for sheep farmers, with prices for old season stock continuing to improve, but returns for new season lambs disappointingly stable, at an unexpectedly low level. The new lamb trade opened at and continues at 476 cents/kg (170p/lb) for the small early supply.

But it has been a relatively good week for the hogget trade, with prices gaining a further 8 cents/kg (3p/lb).

The opening base quote at the factories on Monday was 372 cents/kg (133p/lb), with prices gaining 6 cents/kg (2p/lb) on Tuesday.