IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said the lamb trade is stronger this week with supplies tighter and factories actively looking for lambs. He said price quotes are up 10c/kg and factories are paying €5.10 to €5.15/kg for lambs. He said the ewe trade is also stronger with up to €3.00/kg paid.
Sean Dennehy said a tightness in supplies combined with good demand driven by the Muslin festival of Eid on Aug 22nd was helping the trade.
In addition Sean Dennehy said a number of plants have increased carcase weights to 21.5kgs and some farmers are bargaining for 22kgs.
Sean Dennehy said IFA met with Minister Creed and the Department of Agriculture last week on sheep tagging and EID and it is clear that the proposed implementation date of October 1st for all sheep to have EID tags will have to be postponed. In addition he said IFA made it clear that the Department will have to pick up the €2m additional costs of EID and it is totally unnecessary to EID tag sheep going from the farm of origin directly to slaughter.
