Hogget prices reach 550p/kg in NI

According to the LMC (Livestock & Meat Commission), base quotes for R3 grade hoggets up to 22kg ranged from 545-550p/kg across factories in Northern Ireland this week.

It reported that the average deadweight hogget price in NI last week rose by 11.8p/kg to 541.3p/kg.

2022 hogget prices 

Throughput of hoggets in NI plants last week totalled 6,901 head, back 309 head from the previous week.

This is also back 481 head when compared to the 7,382 hoggets that local plants processed in the same week in 2021.

Exports of hoggets to ROI last week for direct slaughter totalled 5,211 head, up 458 head from the previous week.

Beef prices in Northern Ireland:

Meanwhile, beef farmers across Northern Ireland experienced another price rise in factories this week.

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission, quotes for steers, heifers, and cull cows moved up a notch, while young bull prices were back slightly.

In its weekly market report, it outlined that prices for in-spec U-3 prime cattle “strengthened”, ranging from 390-398p/kg.

It expects quotes to vary from 392-398p/kg from next Monday (February 14^th, 2022).

The commission outlined that the cow trade also “strengthened” with quotes for good quality O+3 grading cows ranging from 280-300p/kg.

• According to the LMC, the average steer price rose by 1.2p/kg to 397.7p/kg, and the R3 steer price was up 2.8p/kg to 407.6p/kg. In the corresponding week in 2021, the R3 steer price was 385.9p/kg, which is 21.7p/kg behind current levels;
• Meanwhile, the average heifer price in NI last week rose by 0.3p/kg to 398.1p/kg, with the R3 heifer price up by 1.2p/kg to 406.8p/kg. In the same week in 2021, the R3 heifer price was 384.9p/kg, 21.9p/kg behind current levels;
• The average young bull price in NI was the only category recording a decline. They were back by almost a penny to 375.9p/kg, while the R3 young bull price was up 1.1p/kg to 389.3p/kg;
• Lastly, the cow trade remained what the LMC described as “firm”. The average cow price was up 0.1p/kg to 277.2p/kg and the O3 cow price rose by 0.3p/kg to 303.9p/kg.