Hogget prices

Gerry Burke had a busy but enjoyable weekend providing hoggets for the open finals at the Kepak All-Ireland and International Sheep-Shearing Championships.

Speaking at the sheep shearing championships, IFA sheep chair Adrian Gallagher said the attempted cut risked undermining the sheep trade.

While breeding seems a long time away early lamb producers in particular are being advised of potential supply shortages of enzootic abortion vaccines.

Lamb prices are steady, ranging in the main from €9.50/kg to €9.70/kg for quality assured lambs, with hogget prices also unchanged, ranging from €9.20/kg to €9.50/kg.

The weekly sheep kill is running over 7,500 head lower than the corresponding week in 2023, with the kill for the year to date running over 111,000 lower.

Fat lambs are a solid trade in NI with little movement on prices, although hoggets are getting harder to source

Tight supplies and a strong live trade has seen factories reversing last week's cuts to lamb prices.

Good-quality in-spec cattle are getting harder to source and there are deals to be made. After an electric start to the trade, lamb prices have steadied this week.