The mart trade for spring lambs is heating up as hogget supplies are winding down for this year. The number of spring lambs being presented for sale are now outnumbering hoggets.
The mart trade for spring lambs is heating up as hogget supplies are winding down for this year.
The number of spring lambs being presented for sale are now outnumbering hoggets.
With supplies tight and not expected to improve significantly for at least two more weeks, prices are moving in the right direction.
Spring lambs are making from €70 to €75 over the weight currently. Farmers are hoping this trade may improve further with buying for Ramadan (beginning 26 May) expected to begin soon.
Factory lambs weighing 40kg to 45kg are selling for €110 to €120/head. This is an improvement of €2 to €4/head on last week.
In some sales, heavier lambs weighing over 46kg with good flesh cover achieved prices exceeding €120/head.
Lighter lambs weighing 34kg to 38kg are selling for €85 to €100/head.
The trade for the remaining hoggets in mart sales is holding strong, with prices not faltering on last week. Hoggets weighing 48kg to 50kg+ are selling for €100 to €117/head.
Mart managers continue to report a strong trade for good-quality ewe hoggets.
Ewe hoggets suitable for breeding in the back end of the year are making from €120 to €140/head.
It seems the cull ewe trade peaked three weeks ago, but is holding steady since. Medium-sized fleshed ewes are selling for €90 to €110/head. Top prices for heavy fleshed ewes were up to €130/head.
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