Factories paying at least 10 cents/kg (4p/lb) over ‘official’ prices

HOGGET prices are showing gains of at least 10 cents/kg (4p/lb) at factories this week, while prices being offered for scarce supplies of new season lamb are unchanged.

Demand eased on Tuesday, with only a minority of factories quoting prices, after a positive start to the week on Monday, when quoted prices for hoggets ranged from 420 to 425 cents/kg (150p to 152p/lb).

The only quote for Tuesday was 420 cents/kg (150p/lb). But reports from sheep farmers around the country confirmed that plants have been paying at least 10 cents/kg (4p/lb) over these official prices to get supplies, and in some cases a bit more for large lots of quality hoggets.