ICSA members will meet with Irish Country Meats to discuss lamb prices following today's protest at the plant in Camolin, Co Wexford.

The action followed price cuts of 50c/kg last week that saw lamb prices cut by €10.

Farmers from far afield

Farmers from as far afield as Donegal and Cavan arrived by bus, car and more early this morning, with the entrance to the site being blocked from 8am.

No lambs entered the plant from that point until after 2pm.

As the morning wore on, some people attempted to enter and leave the premises.

Veterinary officers needing to access the plant were allowed to do so.

Shortly after 2pm, with the day's activity effectively curtailed, the farmers departed.

They want to see ICM and other processors commit to an immediate reversal of last week's price cut, described by ICSA sheep chair Sean McNamara as "totally unacceptable".

If prices do not improve, the mood of the farmers was to escalate their action.

"We're ready to bring this to the gates of every sheep plant in the country, and to the streets of Dublin if needs be," said Wicklow ICSA chair Tom Stephenson.