The sheep trade has burst into life this week, with live prices up by €10 to €12/head – leaving top hoggets exceeding €200/head. Quality hoggets weighing from 52kg to 58kg are trading anywhere from €202 to €218/head, with the live trade outperforming the dead trade. Factory base quotes increased by 30c/kg, but opening offers of €8.20/kg to €8.30/kg are lagging well behind prices of €8.40/kg to €8.60/kg now being paid to regular sellers, or those handling large numbers.

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