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.