Shortsighted Undermining of Sheep Prices by Factories Must Stop
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher has strongly criticised the shortsighted and unnecessary cuts factories have applied to hogget prices over the past number of weeks.
He said prices have been cut to between €8.80 and €9.00/kg to weights of 23kgs. This level of price cuts is unacceptable and cannot be absorbed by sheep farmers who have invested in having hoggets available for factories to service key customers at a critical and expensive time of the year.
Supplies are back significantly year-on-year. Numbers at export plants last week were 47,902, compared to 61,248 in the same week last year. Sheep throughput to-date in 2025 is 21% down compared to 2024 at 399,187.
“We are approaching the peak demand period over the coming weeks with the end of Ramadan, followed by the Eid al-Fitr Muslim festival, and Easter Sunday coming on Apr 20th, when factories will have no choice but to secure hoggets to service important customers.”
The IFA Sheep Chair said farmers should not be misled by unfounded negativity from factories and their agents on sheep markets.
“Demand over the coming weeks will exceed supply and factories must reflect this in the prices and weights offered for hoggets,” he concluded.
