Meat Industry Ireland rejects IFA’s call to increase sheep carcase slaughter weights
In a meeting with MII and representatives of the main lamb processing plants, IFA sheep chair, John Lynskey, proposed that meat plants should immediately increase sheep carcase weights to 21kg.
The IFA delegation also proposed that carcase weights increase to 21.5kg from June 1, to 22kg from mid-July, to 22.5kg from September 1, to 23kg from mid-October and 23.5kg from December 1.
“Sheep farmers have come through a difficult and high cost spring. Early lamb producers can’t afford price hits of €10 to €15 per head,” said Mr Lynskey.
“It is critical that lamb prices are stabilised and there is no price upheaval in the changeover from hoggets to new season lamb.”
MII senior director Cormac Healy said the meeting with the IFA was constructive, but disagreed with the carcase weight proposal.
He said supply/demand pressures in key continental markets were the primary cause of current market weaknesses, coupled with drastically reduced fifth quarter contribution compared to this time last year.
“While IFA raised the issue of increasing carcase weight cut-offs at the meeting, processors stressed that customer and consumer demand does not support this,” he said.
“The most important thing is that we need to continue the orderly marketing of lambs as they come fit.”
Mr Healy said Irish exporters to France face stiff competition from strong supply of local Lacaune lamb, an abundant supply of Spanish lamb on the back of raised production, while a more favourable sterling/euro exchange rate gave British lamb an advantage.
He also said that weaker demand in China has led to a renewed focus from New Zealand exporters on the EU market, with greater import quota usage evident and higher volumes being targeted at Northern European markets, where Irish lamb exports had been making progress in recent years.
Meanwhile, IFA has undertaken intensive campaigns over the last year for a new targeted sheep payment and the restoration of Disadvantaged Area payments (ANCs).
IFA president, Joe Healy, said that he welcomes the incoming Government’s proposed €25m funding for a new sheep scheme and the increase in funding for the ANC Scheme of €25m.
He said both measures need to be in this year’s budget and paid out to farmers in 2017.
The IFA has also welcomed the decision from the EU Commission to approve the inclusion of sheep fencing as an investment under the existing TAMS scheme.
It suggests that the Department of Agriculture should now immediately move to open the scheme and have it included in the next application tranche.
“Grant aid for sheep fencing is a positive development. Good fencing is key to maximizing grass utilization on sheep farms,” said John Lynskey.
The IFA is also calling upon both the Government and the European Union to increase their direct supports for sheep farmers, including a €20 per ewe targeted payment.
