Sheep Farmers Resisting Price Pressure from Factories

IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said farmers are resisting price pressure from the factories this week with €5.90/kg common and some farmers getting €6.00/kg.

He said farmers are still counting the cost of the difficult spring and there is no doubt that lamb numbers will be tighter this year with farmers reporting very poor weaning figures and higher loses than previously thought. This follows similar trends in Northern Ireland and the UK.

He said this should help stabilise the lamb price with supplies still very tight and good market demand. In addition, he said sheep prices worldwide are the highest they have been for some time and there does not seem to be anything on the horizon to upset this trend.

Sean Dennehy said the Board Bia and supermarket promotions are in full swing and the Eid festival in August is getting closer.

He said farmers are reminded to only sell lambs when fit and not to sell underweight or under fleshed lambs.