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.

The spring lamb prices are unchanged, at a base of 560 cents/kg (200p/lb) but supplies, while increasing slowly, are still light.

In the marts, up to €84 over was paid for spring lamb on Monday and butchers hoggets were selling for up to €53 over.

There were 700 head on offer at Fermoy on Monday, where the trade was reported to be excellent.

The butcher’s hoggets sold for €80 to €115/head, equivalent to €30 to €59 over. Factory hoggets ranged from €70 to 80/head, or €26 to 36 over.

There was a large sale of almost 1,400 head at Kilkenny Mart on Monday. Spring lambs ranged from €63 to 84 over, and butchers hoggets made €41 to €53 over.

In Britain, hogget prices have gained around 10% over the past week, bringing prices to the equivalent of 477 cents/kg (170p/lb). In France, supplies are very tight, and Irish and British lamb is selling at around 480 cents/kg. Supplies from New Zealand are having some negative effect on the market.