Hogget supplies have tightened significantly over the last week, leaving factory agents having to work harder to get their hands on required numbers.
There is no great change in base quotes, but there is much more reports of higher prices being paid to secure sales of larger batches.
Prices reported at the top end of the market in recent days range from €9.30/kg to €9.50/kg, with many such deals to 23.5kg carcase weight.
There are also some reports starting to appear of slightly higher being paid for very large batches of hoggets.
Two-tiered system
This is leading to a two-tiered pricing system, with sellers handling lower numbers trading in the region of €9.10/kg to €9.20/kg.
Mart managers continue to report higher numbers of hoggets being marketed live from producers realising that there is higher prices going, but unable to unlock them.
Numbers of spring lambs coming on stream are low. Typical prices are in the region of €10/kg, but there are also deals being completed 10c/kg to 20c/kg higher.
Reports indicate that some sellers with heavier spring lambs are also trying to opt to market them as hoggets, with the extra weight allowance and narrow differential between prices paid making it more advantageous to do so.
NI trade
The trade in Northern Ireland has also stepped up a notch. Base quotes remain in the region of £8.30/kg (€9.57/kg) for hoggets, but sellers handling large numbers are securing £8.40/kg to £8.50/kg (€9.69/kg to €9.80/kg).
Competition is high in the market, with continued strong demand from buyers purchasing sheep to export live to Britain.
SHARING OPTIONS