There is slightly more life in the sheep trade this week, with live sales held on Monday reporting hogget prices €1 to €2/head firmer.

The dead trade is largely unchanged, although some sellers handling large numbers and trading at the top end of the market are having some success in securing 5c/kg to 10c/kg higher.

Factory base quotes are unchanged at €7.50/kg or an opening price of €7.60/kg to €7.70/kg for quality assured hoggets.

ADVERTISEMENT

Groups and regular sellers are trading in the region of €7.75/kg to €7.80/kg, while prices at the top end of the market are rising to €7.90/kg.

Some agents reluctant to budge on price are more optimistic on demand later in the week and are trying to line up supplies ahead of the start of Ramadan on 17 February.

Live trade

The live trade in marts held on Monday was slightly sharper, with prices €1 to €2/head higher in cases.

Kilkenny Mart reported prices for a small entry of 300 head up to €6 to €8/head higher, with wholesale buyers driving the trade for heavier lots.

This witnessed hoggets weighing 54kg to 58kg trading from €180 to €190/head, while lots weighing from 50kg to 53kg sold from €176 to €179/head.

Ennis Mart reported an improved trade in particular for hoggets weighing from 43kg to 49kg.

Fleshed hoggets weighing from 48kg to 51kg sold from €171 to €177, while top-quality stores also firmed, selling from €3.70/kg to €3.90/kg.

Northern Ireland

There is also more competition in the market in Northern Ireland, with agents purchasing sheep for export to Ireland and Britain inserting more demand into the market.

Factories are trying to hold base quotes at £6.30/kg (€7.27/kg), but are having to pay 10p/kg to 15p/kg above quotes to secure sales.