Critical Time of Year for Lamb Prices – IFA

IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said we are facing into a critical time of year for sheep farmers where breeding decisions will be made on farms.

He said the decline in the sector over recent years is there for all to see with over 800,000 sheep for processing lost from the sector, last year’s census returns showed a stabilisation of the ewe flock which must now be built on.

Adrian Gallagher said there is an urgent need for confidence to be restored among sheep farmers if we are serious about rebuilding the national flock and building back up our levels of production of sheep meat to retain key high-end customers.

The IFA Sheep Chair said this must start with strong viable prices from factories without the volatility that sheep farmers do not have the capacity to absorb.

He said the hill sheep sector is a key part of sheep production, but very low incomes, generational renewal challenges and misguided policies have forced farmers out of production.

The hill sheep sector is a significant contributor to ensuring a year-round supply of lamb for processors and are dependent on store lamb sales for their incomes.

Adrian Gallagher said factories have a key role to play in their pricing of lambs over the coming months to ensure markets are strong for store lambs and that both lowland and hill farmers have enough confidence to stay in the sector and increase the numbers of ewes put with rams this breeding season.