A WELCOME rise in hogg prices happened this week as the annual build up for the Easter period began to boost demand across Scotland’s livestock auctions.

What usually drives up trade is a tightening of the numbers of hoggs offered for sale, but the latest prices from AHDB indicate that the Scottish liveweight average rose by 8.2p per kg on the week for 7.2% more sold. The figures show some 23,191 hoggs sold through Scottish auction marts to average 171.4p in the week ended March 27, with a more significant increase seen in the SQQ category for hoggs weighing 25.5kg to 45.5kg as 15,222 hoggs cashed in to average 176.1p, a rise of 9p on the week for 7.7% more sold. 

This was the story at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone centre, last week, when some 4725 hoggs sold through the ring to average 176.7p per kg, an increase of 12p on the week with SQQ hoggs up 9.7p to level at 185.1p. 

“Last week we had a good number of hoggs forward for the time of year,” pointed out Colin Slessor, sheep sales manager at Thainstone, who saw a top price of 251.3p per kg paid for a pen of Beltex weighing 38kg from Guise, Tough, last Thursday. “Heavy sorts were only a wee bit dearer on the week, but export hoggs were very keenly sought after – a smart Texel or Beltex hogg weighing 42kg would sell for the same as a heavier type around the 52kg mark. 

“There’s a lot of heavier sheep about in this area, but there’s not much point in keeping them for an extra few weeks if lighter sorts are the same value,” added Mr Slessor, who was hopeful last week’s prices would be maintained at the firm’s sale on Thursday, held after The SF went to press. 

It should be noted, however, that prices remain some 10p to 15p behind last year's levels up to this point. The good news is that the gap is narrowing and with Easter falling a week later than last year, this will perhaps rectify in the coming days. 

It was a similar situation in the Borders, where C and D Auction Marts sold 4555 old season lambs through its Longtown centre, where a large number of heavier hoggs impacted the overall average of 184.4p per kg, with SQQ hoggs at 196.4p. 

Admittedly, it was a smaller show due to ‘monsoon-like’ weather on the Wednesday prior to the sale at a centre which could easily sell a couple thousand more than that at this time of year, and so demand perhaps outweighed supply in this case. But the best price was paid for the best on offer, as Jimmy Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill, Crieff, received 318p for a pen of Beltex, while Texels from Messrs Bell, Kirkton, led the gross trade at £155. 

“We had a reduced number forward because of the weather but also because a lot of men are lambing at the moment,” Longtown’s prime sheep auctioneer, Archie Hamilton, told The Scottish Farmer.

“But there’s a lot of hoggs forward with too much weight on them and those big sheep are 10 a penny at the moment. A lot of export-weight hill sheep are selling well as Blackface and Cheviot hoggs met the best of the trade at last week’s sale. 

“A lot of men will be holding on to last year’s lambs and hoping for more money, but they’ve got to keep marketing them when ready and bear in mind there’s only a couple more weeks before Easter,” pointed out Mr Hamilton, adding that he expected hoggs to keep coming forward for the next few months.

Deadweight prices are rallying somewhat too, as is expected when the auction trade improves. Latest AHDB data for the week ended March 25 shows old season SQQ sheep averaged 399.1p per deadweight kg, a rise of 5.1p on the week but still some way behind last year’s 433.5p. But, this could catch up in the coming weeks.

Mr Hamilton also highlighted the strong trade for cast ewes due to scarcity, given the fact that many of the yeld sheep have already been sold prior to lambing. While lighter, hill ewes are still trading behind last year’s levels, heavy ewes in particular are demanding a premium and there are plenty buyers out there for them.