Spring lamb for sale this weekend

THE first of the season’s spring lamb will be available in the supermarkets and butcher shops this Easter weekend, according to the IFA.

IFA Sheep Committee chairman Henry Burns said the domestic lamb market is very important to the sheep sector. Last year, Irish consumers purchased 21,000 tonnes of lamb or 31% of total production. Per capita consumption of sheep meat is 5kg.

The home market was very strong again in 2007 with Taylor Nelson Sofres’ retail figures showing expenditure up 11% to €127 million.

Lamb accounted for 8% of household fresh meat purchases with volumes growing by 3%. Average retail price for lamb was up 8% to €9.77/kg.

However, prices at farm level were flat at €3.72/kg, highlighting the problem of continuing divergence between consumer and producer prices.

Mr Burns said sheep production is the third most important farming sector after beef and dairying. Some 34,000 farmers are involved and output is valued at more than €260m, with export earnings of €190m.

France is the major export market accounting for more than 55% of exports at 27,500 tonnes. Britain is Ireland’s second largest export market at 12,500 tonnes.

Mr Burns said the sheep sector makes a very important economic, social and environmental contribution to rural Ireland, preserving sensitive hill and mountainous areas.