The ICSA's sheep committee is mounting a protest outside ICM Camolin in Co Wexford this Monday morning against falling lamb prices.

“It costs a lot of money to rear these lambs and we need to be getting a minimum of €7/kg to make it viable. Right now, prices have gone well below the €6/kg mark, plus we’re getting hammered by weight limits,” said the organisation's sheep chair Sean McNamara.

He accused factories of importing lamb into the Republic to depress prices, despite strong trade in the UK.

"EID was supposed to help, but all that has done is increase costs for us while factories and marts drag their heals on installing the necessary readers," McNamara said. He added that new export markets so far had not delivered money for the primary producers.

“There is no way sheep farmers can bear these sorts of price cuts and if they continue, most of us will not be able to stay going. Our produce has been rendered virtually worthless; we might as well be giving it away for free,” he said.

Members of the ICSA sheep committee protest outside ICM Camolin, Co Wexford. \ ICSA

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