Irish Cattle & Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) sheep chair Sean McNamara is urging sheep farmers to resist any attempt by processors to push prices down.

He said that processors were cynically toying with farmers and urged farmers to hold out for better prices.

"Ramadan only began on 23 April and continues until 28 May, but factories would have us believe that demand has disappeared since Sunday, with some factories not even quoting for tomorrow,” McNamara said.

“Yet all the while, sheep and sheep products continue to be sourced from Britain and Northern Ireland to the detriment of local suppliers. It makes no sense."

Last week, prices for spring lambs were creeping upwards. Reports showed producers with numbers on hand were securing base prices of €6.30/kg, with some prices rising to €6.50/kg.

McNamara said that demand hadn’t suddenly gone away and with supplies remaining tight there was no justification for cutting prices.