Factories have been “shredding” the lamb price over the last two weeks, IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy has said.
He added that the move is destroying farmers’ incomes and lining factory pockets.
Prices are at €5.10/kg to €5.30/kg, which is €13 to €15 per lamb down on last year’s price.
Lining their own pockets
“With lamb prices in supermarkets the very same as last year, farmers believe the factories are lining their own pockets at the expense of farmers. Factories have a lot of explaining to do,” Dennehy said, adding that imported lamb is being used to undermine prices.
“There are reports of lamb being imported from as far away as Australia to keep prices down. This is an utter scandal.”
The IFA says that the factories that are telling local suppliers they have to cut prices are the same factories importing lambs from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“[The] IFA is demanding that the bonus for quality assurance be increased to 30c/kg,” said Dennehy, calling for the carcase weight on ewes to move up to at least 45kg at the factories.
He said ewes were making €1.20/kg in the marts last week, which is well above the factory price taking account of the restrictive weight limit some plants are applying.
Read more
Sheep Trends: factories move to ease quotes
SheepWatch: slightly tougher lamb trade in recent days
Factories have been “shredding” the lamb price over the last two weeks, IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy has said.
He added that the move is destroying farmers’ incomes and lining factory pockets.
Prices are at €5.10/kg to €5.30/kg, which is €13 to €15 per lamb down on last year’s price.
Lining their own pockets
“With lamb prices in supermarkets the very same as last year, farmers believe the factories are lining their own pockets at the expense of farmers. Factories have a lot of explaining to do,” Dennehy said, adding that imported lamb is being used to undermine prices.
“There are reports of lamb being imported from as far away as Australia to keep prices down. This is an utter scandal.”
The IFA says that the factories that are telling local suppliers they have to cut prices are the same factories importing lambs from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
“[The] IFA is demanding that the bonus for quality assurance be increased to 30c/kg,” said Dennehy, calling for the carcase weight on ewes to move up to at least 45kg at the factories.
He said ewes were making €1.20/kg in the marts last week, which is well above the factory price taking account of the restrictive weight limit some plants are applying.
Read more
Sheep Trends: factories move to ease quotes
SheepWatch: slightly tougher lamb trade in recent days
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