Latest news with #Texels
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Red flag for sheep sector as hogget price falls below beef
The ICM group drop down to €7.80+20c/kg quality assurance for hogget but their quote for spring lamb is unchanged at €9.00+20c/kg QA, with cull ewes continuing at €5.50/kg. Willie Shaw of ICSA said: 'The failure of the shipping trade to get going in the run-up to Eid Al Adha (on June 6) has had a major impact on the trade. 'Hogget numbers in the south and the east have are all but gone and factories are switching over completely to springs.' Considerable numbers of hoggets remain in the north-west but these too will probably have disappeared in two weeks. And they are making over €1.20/kg less than this time last year, when the market was been driven by the shipping trade. Back then hoggets were being quoted at €900-9.10/kg plus bonuses, while factory quotes for bullocks and heifers ranged from €5.05-5.10/kg. 'I have never in my lifetime seen the price for hogget fall below what's being offered for beef,' Mr Shaw said – at an all-in price of €8.00/kg, hogget is 10-20c/kg behind what beef farmers can expect for Angus and Hereford cattle at €8.10-8.20/kg. The ICM quote for spring lamb is only 30-40c/kg behind where the trade was at 12 months ago, while cull ewes are up to €1.50/kg ahead of May 2024. A factory rep explained: 'You will always have a trade for mutton from Muslim population. 'Mutton does not tend to fall apart like lamb and today we can do more with it.' IFA sheep chair Adrian Gallagher added: 'Lamb numbers continue to tighten, with factories needing to dig in for supplies. ADVERTISEMENT 'Total throughput is back 17pc to date and no surge of lambs is expected in the coming weeks 'Supplies are not matching market demand in the run-up to Eid al Adha.' He said factories are offering deals of up to €8.30kg for hoggets and €9.50kg for spring lambs, with cull ewes ranging from €5.50kg to €5.80kg. On the mart front, Eilish Curley's of Ballinasloe said 'trade for all classes of sheep has fallen by €20-25/hd over the last couple of weeks'. This translated into 44kg spring lambs selling from €170-175hd on Thursday. Yesterday's sale in New Ross had 650 sheep presented. Hogget numbers were small, with prices down around €30/hd in two weeks. There was a good trade for lamb, with better Texels at 50.6kg selling to €201/hd. In Raphoe yesterday 43-50kg lambs made €180-200/hd, with 38-43kgs at €150-180/hd and ewe hoggets at €200-278/hd. There is good demand for ewes with lambs at foot, especially where the lambs are strong – prices hit €400/family in both Ballinasloe and Baltinglass last week. Around the marts Ballinasloe mart All classes of sheep have fallen by €20-25/hd over the last couple of weeks. On Thursday 44kg spring lambs made €170-175hd, with 47kgs at €180/hd and 40kgs at €156/hd. Among the hoggets 60kgs made up to €215/hd, with 57kgs selling for €211/hd, although a batch of 61.5kgs made just €170/hd. Cull ewes were also easier, with the best 100-102kgs selling for €278-292/hd. On the breeding side second- and third-crop ewes topped at €400/family for those with twins at foot. Tullamore mart Trade held steady at Wednesday's sale of 1,300 sheep . The spring lambs and hoggets included a top call of €212/hd for 63kgs, with 53kgs reaching €200/hd and 47-48kgs making €193-195/hd. On the cull ewe side, the top call was €306/hd for 121kgs, with 104-108kgs at €282-297/hd. On the feeder side 75-77kgs made €195-226/hd, with 64-70kg selling from €168-192/hd. New Ross mart Yesterday's sale had 650 sheep, with hogget numbers continuing to fall; they made €152 to €181/hd for 56kgs. Lambs were a good trade, with 37-44kgs selling from €144-172/hd and 44-47kgs at €170-192/hd, while better heavier continentals made €194-201/hd. Heavier cull ewes made €220-330/hd, with feeders selling for €110-200/hd. Raphoe mart Numbers reached 500 yesterday, with 43-50kg spring lambs making €180-200/hd and 38-43kgs at 4150-180/hd. Ewe hoggets made €200-278/hd, while two ewes with four lambs at foot sold for €150/family and two lambs with singles €226/hd. Cull ewes sold for €120-290/hd. Baltinglass mart Trade for hogget eased on Saturday but there was a very strong trade for ewes with lambs at foot, especially stronger lambs – they made €150-400/family. Cull ewes sold from €140-214/hd.
Press and Journal
04-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
North-east student wants to help build future of family-run farm
Every month, we catch up with a member of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC). This time we hear from Gemma Stuart, of Udny Junior Agricultural Club. I have been brought up by my parents, alongside my older brother, on an arable and mixed livestock farm at Milltown of Birness, near Ellon. We run a flock of Suffolks, Texels and cross ewes to sell to the pedigree and commercial market at sales across the country. Beside the sheep, we have 300 store cattle which are bought in as forward stores for finishing. In addition, we have 350 acres all ploughable, of which 140ac are used to grow feed barley and 15ac of swedes or stubble turnips, and a small acreage of cabbage. I am currently finishing my fourth year at Scotland's Rural College, studying for a BSc honours degree in rural business management. For the past two years I have had a part-time job at ANM Group, of Thainstone, near Inverurie. After I have finished college I will be going there to work full time. I've had the role of secretary of Udny Young Farmers for the past two years, working alongside the chairman, Andrew Frank. This year I am press secretary for the club, looking after the social media aspect. I joined at the age of 14 to meet like-minded people who have similar interests. My older brother was already part of Udny JAC, and having both parents also previously being heavily involved in Young Farmers, they all encouraged me to join. The meetings and social events were something I was really keen to be involved with, and I have enjoyed every one of them. Coming second overall at the Grampian rally in 2024. As a club, we also won the five-a-side football and best club in the ladies' competitions. Being secretary that day was a big achievement. I was proud to be part of Udny Young Farmers, watching all our members come together working as a team towards the same goal. Winter. In November we sell in-lamb gimmers and ewe lambs at Thainstone, H&H (Harrison & Hetherington) and Dingwall, meeting up with Suffolk breeders from across the country. I also enjoy seeing new life arrive during lambing. There is no better feeling than seeing the new stock rams' offspring being born. For the agriculture industry to be appreciated more and valued for the hard work that is put into their enterprises. Young Farmers has given me the opportunity to be involved in activities and develop new skills. I have developed interpersonal skills, such as public speaking and working together as a team. It has also shown me to take risks, whether they be big or small, and to enter every activity. I've also enjoyed meeting past members with different experiences. They have been willing to show and develop the younger generation to keep Young Farmers' activities alive. Meanwhile, being secretary of Udny JAC has given me valuable experience in organising events and managing large groups, skills I am able to take into the future. To be happy and healthy, and also to enjoy the small things in life. I hope to succeed in everything I do and help to build the future of our family-run farm. Whether someone comes from a farming background or not, I would encourage them to join SAYFC as there is something for everyone. There is so much to gain from joining a Young Farmers' club and making friends for life.
