Factories release first spring lamb quotes

Sheep Factory Prices: Northern Ireland

According to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC), prices for hoggets remained “steady”  across factories in Northern Ireland this week.

In its weekly market outlook report, it explained that prices for R3 grade hoggets ranged from 585-590p/kg, with plants paying up to 22kg.

The commission confirmed that “small numbers” of springs lambs are starting to become available. Quotes, this week, it reported, ranged from 630-635p/kg up to 21kg for R3 grading lambs.

Sheep factory prices 

A spokesperson for the LMC said:

“The average deadweight hogget price in NI last week was 570.8p/kg, up 2.5p/kg from the previous week.”

“In ROI last week, the average deadweight hogget price was up by the equivalent of 2.5p/kg to 609.2p/kg,” the spokesperson added.

Throughput

Local plants processed a total of 7,121 hoggets/lambs in local plants last week, an increase of 430 head from the 6,691 head killed locally the week prior to this.

Exports of lambs/hoggets to ROI for direct slaughter amounted to 5,716 head, which is down 667 head compared to the previous week.

The previous week’s report

Prices for hoggets remained unchanged at 560-590p/kg (up to 22kgs) across sheep plants in Northern Ireland the previous week.

That is according to the Livestock and Meat Commission, which reported that the average deadweight hogget price in NI last week was 568.3p/kg.

This represented a “significant” increase of 12.7p/kg from the previous week.

Meanwhile, the body reported that in the ROI last week, the average deadweight hogget price was up by the equivalent of 18.6p/kg to 606.7p/kg.

According to the commission, a total of 6,691 hoggets/lambs were killed in local plants last week, down 592 head from the 7,283 head killed the week locally prior to this.

On another note, exports of lambs/hoggets to ROI for direct slaughter amounted to 6,383 head. This fell 982 head when compared to the previous week.

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