Hogg prices ease as more spring lambs come forward

The lamb trade has remained relatively flat since the start of 2025, with prices struggling to match the highs seen this time last year.

The GB deadweight lamb SQQ dropped by 3.4p/kg to 724.3p/kg for the week ending 5 April.

This compares with 829.5p/kg for the same week last year and raises questions around the impact of imports on the domestic price.

See also: Meat processor Pilgrim’s scales up lamb production for Easter

Supplies have started to pick up, with throughputs at abattoirs up by 7% on the week, but overall numbers remain roughly in line with last year.

However, livestock marketing group Meadow Quality suggests supplies may increase as more spring lambs start to come to market, given the warmer weather.

Stuart Vile, ruminant manager at Meadow Quality, said prices were on the slide and abattoirs were looking to drop 20p/kg to 30p/kg, especially for heavier lambs.

However, the picture in Ireland has been very different, with exceptionally tight supplies helping prices to rebound, according to the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).

IFA sheep chairman Adrian Gallagher said hogget throughput had been extremely tight and running almost 126,000 head behind the same period last year, highlighting the tightening of supplies in the market.

He added that demand was expected to increase further in the coming weeks as processors filled orders in the lead-up to Easter, and some abattoirs were offering a premium for larger lots.

Auction markets

Auctioneer Harrison & Hetherington sold almost 2,800 hoggs at Borderway Mart in Carlisle, with prices averaging 322p/kg and £152 a head.

At Brecon Market on 8 April, a small entry of spring lambs sold to 400p/kg while hoggs sold to an overall average of 327.8p/kg.

Brecon auctioneer Tom Pritchard said best hoggs sold for 357p/kg, while smaller hill breeds were trading between 315p/kg and 330p/kg.

Meanwhile, an entry of more than 1,400 spring lambs went under the hammer at Exeter Livestock Centre with a top price of 432p/kg.

The spring lamb trade at Exeter was generally a touch firmer on the week, according to auctioneer Russell Steer, with Easter adding to demand. However, he said it was not at the “dizzy heights” seen last year.