Sheep prices: April 2022
According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), both hogget and spring lamb prices were back in factories across Northern Ireland this week (April 2022).
Quotes from the NI plants for R3 grade hoggets ended this week in the region of 570-585p/kg up to 22kg.
Meanwhile, prices for spring lambs came back to 600-625p/kg up to 21kg. According to the LMC, processors are placing between 610- 625p/kg on the table for spring lambs next week.
In its weekly market outlook report, a spokesperson for the LMC said:
“The average deadweight hogget price in NI last week was back by 9.7p/kg to 563.6p/kg, while the average deadweight spring lamb price in NI last week was back by 14.3p/kg to 591.8p/kg.”
“Last week, the ROI deadweight lamb/hogget price was up 3.1p/kg to 611.2p/kg,” the LMC added.
Throughput in sheep plants and exports
Moreover, processors have reported fewer numbers of hoggets/lambs coming forward for slaughter, with throughput last week amounting to 4,542 head.
The LMC noted that this was back 1,463 head from the 6,005 hoggets/lambs processed in local plants the previous week.
On the other hand, exports of lambs/hoggets from NI to ROI for direct slaughter last week amounted to 3,297 head. This was back 1,078 head from the 4,375 head exported the previous week.
Sheep prices in livestock marts
The number of hoggets passing through the sale rings continued to decline this week.
The LMC noted that the number of spring lambs on offer has started to increase across many marts.
In Rathfriland this week, 361 spring lambs sold from 545-602p/kg (avg 575p/kg).
Across the marts, top reported prices for cull ewes generally ranged from £180-£260. A top call of £286 was reported in Swatragh last Saturday.
Meanwhile, in Omagh last Saturday, 255 hoggets changed hands from 483-509p/kg, with 78 spring lambs trading from 512-614p/kg.
Read a report from the previous week.
 in factories/plants across Northern Ireland this week (April 2022)){kind=link}