19-05-2025
Sheep trade: 50c/kg cut sees hoggets fall below beef price
This week's sheep trade has seen factories move to reduce hogget price by as much as 50c/kg in some cases, while cull ewe prices have remained firm at all sites and spring lamb price held at some sites and fell at others.
The move sees factories quoting 'all-in' prices of €8/kg for hoggets and, according to president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) Sean McNamara, 'is the first time in living memory that hogget price has fallen below beef price'.
McNamara said: 'Hoggets were at €9.00/kg around this time last year and are now at €8.00/kg for this week.
'There's over €8.00/kg all-in prices to be got for some cattle this week and it's the first time I've ever seen hoggets fall below beef price.'
The Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha is approaching on Friday, June 6, and many farmers had expected price rises in the sheep trade in advance of this, which has failed to materialise to date.
This week, Irish Country Meats (ICM) is quoting €9.00/kg plus a 20c/kg Quality Assurance (QA) bonus for spring lambs, leaving €9.20/kg on offer here again this week up to 21kg carcass-weight.
The Navan, Co. Meath and Camolin, Co. Wexford-based outlet is quoting €7.80/kg plus a 20c/kg QA bonus for hoggets, leaving €8.00/kg on offer. This price is back 50c/kg from last week. ICM is quoting €5.50/kg for cull ewes again this week.
Kepak is quoting €8.85/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for spring lambs up to 21kg carcass-weight, leaving €9.00/kg on offer here. This price is down €10c/kg from its quote last Monday.
The Athleague, Co. Roscommon site is quoting €7.85/kg plus a 15c/kg QA bonus for hoggets up to 23kg carcass-weight, leaving €8.00/kg on offer here. This price is down 30c/kg from last week. Kepak is quoting €5.50-5.60/kg for cull ewes again this week.
Kildare Chilling has no official quotes for this week. Ballon Meats in Co. Carlow is quoting €5.60/kg for cull ewes and €8.20/kg for hoggets.
