Mountbellew Mart in Co Galway recorded a vibrant trade for hoggets on Saturday, with a handful of pens of quality ewe hoggets with strong breeding potential exceeding the €170 mark and rising to a top of €174 for sharp-headed hoggets weighing 58.7kg.
This batch of Texel and Charollais cross ewe hoggets weighing 51kg sold for €162.
There was a significant increase in the number of ewe hoggets entered in the sale, with the higher factory prices encouraging many farmers to cash in on a percentage of those on hand.
These prices were underpinned by farmer bidding, with factory buyers not willing to rise to this level.
This batch of Suffolk ewe hoggets including some crossbred type hoggets weighed 50.7kg and sold for €159.
Fleshed hoggets weighing 50kg to 58kg and not attracting strong attention from farmer buyers sold on average from €158 to €164.
Good-quality wether lambs sold in a similar price range, with the best-quality lots attracting butcher attention selling from €163 to €168.
A notable price here was €165 paid for large-framed ewe hoggets weighing 69kg which were scanned empty.
This batch of lighter crossbred ewe hoggets weighing 44kg sold for €136.
There is a significant differential in price depending on the level of flesh cover hoggets possess, with some presented lacking flesh selling back to the low-€150s.
The insatiable appetite from factory agents meant that they were active for hoggets weighing down as low as 44kg to 45kg and possessing good flesh cover.
This batch of ewe hoggets weighing 59kg sold for €172.
The effect of quality on price was evident in a number of crossbred ewe hoggets weighing 44kg to 45kg and tight-woolled hoggets in the same weight category.
The crossbred lots sold on average for €136 to €137, while the tighter-woolled lambs with a better cover of flesh sold for €142 to €145.
Factory trade
Meanwhile, the factory trade is starting the week in a solid manner.
Top prices are generally in the region of €7.10/kg, with some of these deals including an additional half-kilo carcase weight limit or covering transport costs.
Reports indicate that some sellers handling significant numbers are securing €7.20/kg in select cases, but to a 23kg carcase weight.
Sellers handling smaller numbers and trading on an infrequent basis are typically capable of securing €6.90/kg to €7.00/kg for quality assured hoggets, with factories slow to turn sheep away at prices of €7/kg or under.
Mountbellew Mart in Co Galway recorded a vibrant trade for hoggets on Saturday, with a handful of pens of quality ewe hoggets with strong breeding potential exceeding the €170 mark and rising to a top of €174 for sharp-headed hoggets weighing 58.7kg.
This batch of Texel and Charollais cross ewe hoggets weighing 51kg sold for €162.
There was a significant increase in the number of ewe hoggets entered in the sale, with the higher factory prices encouraging many farmers to cash in on a percentage of those on hand.
These prices were underpinned by farmer bidding, with factory buyers not willing to rise to this level.
This batch of Suffolk ewe hoggets including some crossbred type hoggets weighed 50.7kg and sold for €159.
Fleshed hoggets weighing 50kg to 58kg and not attracting strong attention from farmer buyers sold on average from €158 to €164.
Good-quality wether lambs sold in a similar price range, with the best-quality lots attracting butcher attention selling from €163 to €168.
A notable price here was €165 paid for large-framed ewe hoggets weighing 69kg which were scanned empty.
This batch of lighter crossbred ewe hoggets weighing 44kg sold for €136.
There is a significant differential in price depending on the level of flesh cover hoggets possess, with some presented lacking flesh selling back to the low-€150s.
The insatiable appetite from factory agents meant that they were active for hoggets weighing down as low as 44kg to 45kg and possessing good flesh cover.
This batch of ewe hoggets weighing 59kg sold for €172.
The effect of quality on price was evident in a number of crossbred ewe hoggets weighing 44kg to 45kg and tight-woolled hoggets in the same weight category.
The crossbred lots sold on average for €136 to €137, while the tighter-woolled lambs with a better cover of flesh sold for €142 to €145.
Factory trade
Meanwhile, the factory trade is starting the week in a solid manner.
Top prices are generally in the region of €7.10/kg, with some of these deals including an additional half-kilo carcase weight limit or covering transport costs.
Reports indicate that some sellers handling significant numbers are securing €7.20/kg in select cases, but to a 23kg carcase weight.
Sellers handling smaller numbers and trading on an infrequent basis are typically capable of securing €6.90/kg to €7.00/kg for quality assured hoggets, with factories slow to turn sheep away at prices of €7/kg or under.
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