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Sheep farmers have been encouraged to hold out for €4.90/kg to €5.00/kg for lamb by the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA).
ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara said the demand for lamb was high this week and prices of €4.90/kg were easily achievable.
He encouraged farmers to take advantage of the demand and push for better prices.
Protests
McNamara also wanted to reassure farmers that there was no obstacle to putting lambs into factories.
“I have discussed this matter with protest organisers and have been assured that those local farmers wishing to supply lambs to factories are free to do so.
"We have no problem with them stopping an influx of lambs from the North and the UK going in however,” McNamara said.
The Irish Farmers Journal understands that Dawn Meats Ballyhaunis has indicated to farmers that they will kill lambs on Thursday and Friday.
Pressure
Earlier this summer, the ICSA held its own protest outside Kepak Athleague over falling lamb prices. McNamara said that since the protest, the ICSA had been able to sustain pressure on factories on a weekly basis.
“That pressure has resulted in those price cuts being stopped. We’re now at €4.90/kg to €5.00/kg for lamb and while it’s still not enough, don’t accept anything less,” McNamara concluded.
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