Drop in sheep prices ‘a disaster’

A DROP in sheep prices this week is “a disaster” according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association.

ICSA sheep committee chairman Mervyn Sunderland yesterday said prices are down over 60c per kg for lamb on last week, and €1 for hoggets.

The fact this happened during the scarcest month of the year for lamb calls into question the processing and marketing of the sheep meat industry in Ireland, he said.

Holding back sheep would only create more problems with weight, but selling now would undermine profits, he said.