Mart managers report a growing differential in prices paid for ewe hoggets over the last week to 10 days.

Demand for good-quality ewe hoggets appears to be holding relatively well with prices ranging from €180 to €210 for top-quality lots and higher on occasion for excellent-quality lots.

Medium weight hoggets with breeding potential also remain stable at a price range from €150 to €175 per head.

Poor-quality hoggets in contrast are meeting a more challenging trade with prices for small-framed and light hoggets falling back to €120 per head or lower in cases.

Mart managers report fewer farmers willing to take a chance on these poorer-quality hoggets due to rising feed costs and the recent pressure on factory lamb prices.

A number of mart managers also report a growing number of older and part-time farmers practicing a system of purchasing ewe lambs, running them dry and presenting them for sale as hoggets. This, they say, has saturated the market with fewer buyers present for the lower-grade hoggets.

The trade for breeding rams has also been hit and miss in the last week, with some regional sales of lowland rams recording clearance rates falling to as low as 50% in cases.

Sales of hill sheep breeds have also been variable. Mart managers again point to increased costs and the recent reduction in lamb prices as denting confidence.