A number of lambs presented for slaughter in recent days have been rejected by Department officials.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the Department deemed lambs unfit for slaughter because fleeces were in poor condition, falling into category C classification.

IFA national sheep chair Sean Dennehy said sheep farmers are annoyed and angry that some lambs were sent home again this week. “In a dry week where lambs were coming clean off grass, this was unacceptable,” he argued.