May 2022: Sheep Prices
Factories across Northern Ireland pulled R3 hogget prices back by up to 10p/kg this week (week of Monday, May 2nd, 2022).
That is according to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), which reported that prices also fell for spring lambs.
Factories put between 570-575p/kg up to 22kgs on the table for R3 hoggets, while it made 615-620p/kg available for spring lambs up to 21kgs.
May 2022 sheep prices
In a statement, a spokesperson for the commission said:
“The average deadweight hogget price in NI last week decreased by 4.4p/kg to 559.2p/kg from the previous week.”
“The NI spring lamb deadweight price decreased by 4p/kg to 587.8p/kg. Last week, the ROI deadweight lamb/hogget price was up 9.1p/kg from the previous week to 620.3p/kg,” the spokesperson added.
Throughput
According to the commission, hogget/lamb throughput in NI last week amounted to 7,322 head. This was a 61 per cent increase, or 2,780 head more than the week before this.
A further 4,682 hoggets/lambs were exported to ROI for direct slaughter last week. This was 1,385 head more than the previous week.
Sheep prices in marts
According to the commission, smaller numbers of hoggets passed through most of the sale rings this week.
Meanwhile, the numbers of spring lambs on offer generally increased across the marts.
On the other hand, the cull ewe trade has “remained firm” across the marts. The top reported prices in this category are ranging from £183-£236/head.
In Rathfriland on Tuesday, 348 spring lambs went under the hammer from 547-600p/kg (avg 577p/kg).
This was compared to 361 spring lambs the previous week, which sold from 545-602p/kg (avg 575p/kg).
In Enniskillen on Wednesday, 140 hoggets fetched from 450- 520p/kg. A further 147 spring lambs found new owners from 540-608p/kg.
In Massereene on Monday, 267 hoggets changed hands from 480- 521p/kg, while 135 spring lambs made from 560-602p/kg.
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