Consumers buying more lamb

Marts: Higher volumes of lamb and pigmeat were purchased by consumers in 2005, which saw a decline in demand for poultry meat, on the previous year, and static beef sales.

Latest analysis from Taylor Nelson Sofres data, on sales of fresh and frozen meats, show a significant swing away from the traditional household practice of purchasing whole turkeys at Christmas.

Throughout 2005, sales of lamb benefited from lower prices, fuelling demand, with the total value of meat purchased during the year exceeding €1 billion - marginally up on 2004.

Analysing the results, Bord Bia said the decline in poultry meat purchases was accompanied by Irish consumers switching to other meats.

Almost half of the switched purchases were taken up by bacon and pork, a quarter by lamb, 13% by sausages and 10% by beef.

The poultry sector declines included lower sales of both turkey and chicken.

Turkey consumption was down 26%, with the decline more pronounced during the Christmas period - when sales slumped by 30% on the same period in 2004.

Sales of chicken for the year fell by 8%.

When sales of cooked and processed poultry products are taken into account, however, total poultry meat sales for the year came to within three per cent of 2004 levels, implying a switch by Irish consumers from whole birds to processed portions.

It was also shown that the frequency of poultry purchases fell by 7%, with the average volume per purchase down by 3%.

The proportion of the population making regular poultry purchases remained constant at 93%.

Sales of pig meat, including rashers increased by eight per cent, while lamb sales were up 11%, by volume, but just three per cent in value because of lower lamb prices.

Irish consumers purchased over 52,000 tonnes of beef during the year.