ICSA strongly criticises reverse in lamb prices and advises caution

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has criticised a recent cut in lamb prices, and urged sheep farmers to be alert to differing upper weight limits.

ICSA national sheep committee chairman Paul Brady said the price for lamb has fallen sharply in recent days. “It is unacceptable that prices have fallen by up to 20c per kg, with some factories quoting as low as €4.80/kg for lambs. On top of that, many factories are only paying out up to 21kg, or 22kg in rare cases,” he said.

Mr Brady said with many R and U grade lambs hitting the 23kg mark, his advice for farmers is to shop around and to pay attention to the upper weight limits being set by the factories.

“Factories are being paid for the entire carcass so there is no justification for the factories to be setting these upper weight limits in the first place,” he said.