Positive sales of lamb over the Easter period is driving demand and a keen appetite from factories aiming to replenish supplies. Agents have been active in mart sales in recent days and are actively looking to source strong numbers for this week’s kill.

This is keeping a firm floor under the trade with base quotes unchanged from before the Easter break. Base quotes for hoggets are typically in the region of an opening quote of €9/kg for quality assured (QA) sheep.

Regular sellers and groups are trading in the region of €9.10/kg while prices at the upper end of the market are in the region of €9.20/kg, with some higher-priced deals involving substantial numbers 5c/kg to 10c/kg above this level. There are also deals being completed involving transport costs being covered while reports indicate that hoggets imported from Northern Ireland range anywhere from being comparable to Irish price to 15c/kg to 25c/kg higher.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is being driven by a higher base quote of £8.30/kg for hoggets, which is the equivalent of upwards of €9.55/kg. There are sizeable numbers of hoggets also being exported to Britain under the production and breeding health certificate, with such sheep selling briskly in mart sales.

The spring lamb trade is also solid, with opening quotes for QA lamb at €10/kg. Prices at the top end of the market are 10c/kg to 20c/kg higher. Again opening prices of £8.80/kg are ahead of prices in Ireland, at the equivalent of €10.15/kg.

Ewe trade

The ewe trade is also enjoying increased competition, with demand for ewes in the British market on the crest of a strong upward wave. Prices on offer from plants in Ireland are in the region of €5.20/kg to €5.50/kg, while ewes delivered to a tight specification in large numbers are selling for 20c/kg to 30c/kg higher. The mart trade remains an excellent market for sellers struggling to negotiate with factory agents, with live prices for good ewes ranging from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg and choice lots rising above €3/kg.