Factories

WHILE we’re still only in February and the football and hurling championships are some way off, the league does offer a distraction of a weekend. The league might lack the edge of championship fare, but when your opposite number has just left you in a heap at midfield don’t tell me you’re not going to level that particular score.

All this by way of saying that with significant price jumps for hogget yesterday the factory sheep trade has jumped into real championship territory.

The big mover is Dawn Ballyhaunis who cranked their quote for hogget up by 25c/ kg to €5.45+10c/kg quality assurance. Kildare Chilling, however continue to head our price table with their offering of €5.50+10c/kg which itself is 10c/kg better than this time last week. Kepak Athleague who came out of the blocks very strongly in January enter February a little off the pace as they maintain at €5.25+15c/kg for hogget.

The strength of the market can be further judged by the fact neither of the ICM plants were in a position to officially quote yesterday for hoggets. However, I’m told they are as active as ever and are not being found wanting in keeping in tight to the opposition when it comes to closing out deals. Moyvalley were also yesterday not quoting for hogget.

On the cull ewe front Dawn Ballyhaunis yesterday finally closed the gap between themselves and everybody else as they upped their quote by 10c/ kg to €2.90/kg.

Prices on the mart front continue to surge. Jim Bushe of New Ross told me his trade for cull ewes was “unbelievable” yesterday. “Our heavy culls hit €148/hd,” he told me. At the same time in Corrin (Fermoy) eight 54kg hoggets were selling for €140/hd, while up in Athenry yesterday ewes with twin lambs at foot sold for €240/hd.

Both the IFA and ICSA report the market for hogget stronger this week with prices on the ground appearing to variously range from €5.65-5.70/kg, with IFA’s Sean Dennehy claiming €5.80/kg was possible.

One mart manager told me his trade for cull ewes was ‘unbelievable’

Sean McNamara of ICSA is warning farmers to be aware that heavy and over-fat sheep will be discounted and that while it’s all well and good trying to get as much weight as possible on the scales, there’s no point at all giving the factory free meat.

I asked Sean where should