The hogget trade continues to defy all expectations with prices rising by another 20c/kg to 30c/kg in the last week. Many producers had anticipated prices might rise to €7/kg and steady there for a period but prices at the top of the market have surpassed this level.
Some specialist producers and agents handling very large numbers are reported as securing prices of €7.10/kg to €7.20/kg while others are moving hoggets in the region of €7/kg but receiving the equivalent of €7.10/kg to €7.15/kg when allowances on transport costs are factored into the equation.
At the opposite end of the market, sellers handling smaller numbers and possessing lower negotiating power are being offered prices of €6.80/kg to €6.90/kg with producers having more success in securing a price of €6.90/kg as the week progresses.
SHARING OPTIONS:
Supplies of well-fleshed hoggets have tightened, with butcher and wholesale activity increasing as a result. \ Claire Nash
The highlight of the trade on Monday is the strong reports surfacing from sheep sales.
Cork Marts Corrin sales yard in Fermoy topped the highlights, with a top price of €164 paid for Charollais-cross ewe hoggets weighing 51.8kg.
The sale was not a one-off, with the hammer falling on another pen of 11 hoggets weighing 55.6kg at €162.
Another notable price achieved was €158 paid on two occasions for hoggets weighing 50.6kg and 53.3kg.
Tight supplies
The trade was driven by tight supplies, with an entry of just 17 lots of hoggets.