Factories are ‘scouring’ the land for hoggets

“THE price for hoggets is €5 to €5 plus and factories are scouring the country for them,” — that was the message from ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks on Sunday night.

By yesterday morning, Kepak Athleague had added 20c/kg to last week’s base price and were out of the stalls at €4.85/kg plus a bonus of 5c/kg for hogget; in second place on this week’s table are Kildare Chilling who are quoting €4.75 plus their 10c/ kg bonus.

Also upping the ante yesterday morning were Moyvalley Meats as they kept in contention with an increase of 10c/kg leaving them all in on €4.80/kg.

While technically tying with Moyvalley at €4.80, the two ICM plants come in third as their price, which is also up 10c/kg at €4.80, is composed of a base of €4.70 plus a 10c/ kg bonus.

Dawn Ballyhaunis are somewhat tailed off this week as they stick to last week’s base of €4.60/kg.

While the ICMs might be struggling to keep up with Kepak and Kildare on lamb/ hogget prices, they have reeled in last week’s leader, Kildare, in the cull ewe stakes as they match Kildare’s €2.50/kg plus 10c/kg bonus with their own base of €2.60/kg.

Back in third and unchanged from last week are Kepak on €2.50 plus their 5c/kg bonus, which leaves Dawn Ballyhaunis in fourth at €2.50/kg.

John Lynskey of the IFA says the official quotes for cull ewes translates into prices of €2.70-2.80/kg on the ground and he noted that ewe prices had “kicked on”.

While the trade may have turned, we are still a long way off €5.50/kg to 24kgs which was the official factory quote for this time last year. That official quote translated into €5.80/ kg on the ground, so there is a way to go but the climb back has started.

The mart trade last week was dominated by smaller numbers and prices that were steady to possibly improved.

However, factory activity over the weekend has seen mart sales start this week stronger as evidenced by the figures from yesterday’s sales at both Athenry and Kilkenny.

Ultimately, it’s all about the numbers. The most recent Bord Bia figures show a 9,000hd increase in total sheep slaughtering to 50,000hd for the week ending February 11 and an overall increase of 38,000hd (14pc for the year to date).

The gradual increase in prices since February 11 indicates a slight slackening in supplies while demand remains unchanged.

Prices in the UK for that week show the equivalent of €4.46/kg as being the price dead weight for lamb, while in France trade is reported as slow.