Factories Can Pay 30c More Than Quoted Prices for Lambs

IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said the factories were over the top with their drive to pull lamb prices. He said market demand for lamb is very strong and the factories can pay a lot more than their low quoted prices.

Some factories are paying 20c to 30c/kg over quoted prices to get numbers.

 

“It’s clear market demand is very strong and factories can pay a lot more than the low quoted prices they are offering.”

 

Sean Dennehy pointed out that lamb prices in the UK are up 15p/kg liveweight this week, with yesterday’s SQQ (Standard Quality Quotation) at £2.30/kg liveweight, which is equivalent to €5.70/kg incl vat.

 

He said some factories were up to skulduggery using lamb imports to put pressure on local suppliers. “With an abundant supply of lambs here, factories should be looking after their local suppliers, not importing lambs form Britain.”

 

IFA has written to the Minister Creed demanding that the Department of Agriculture publish the number of lambs imported each week and where they are coming from.

 

Sean Dennehy said “The Department has the information on lamb imports and it must be made public. There needs to be a lot more transparency around lamb imports and how they are being used by the factories.”