Stability in lamb prices needed
FOLLOWING one of their worst ever winter-spring periods, West of Ireland sheep farmers are pinning their hopes on a stable lamb price for the coming season.
Lamb prices took a slump two weeks ago but have since stabilised – however the IFA have warned that there is just no room for any more price shocks.
Galway IFA Sheep Chairman, Michael Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that sheep farmers in Galway and the West had come through probably their worst ever winter periods.
“It was wet since early November and if that wasn’t bad enough the cold spring then followed on that completely stunted grass growth.
“The winter took a pretty heavy toll on a lot of sheep flocks. Ewes were under a lot of pressure with the weather – there were high mortality levels while feeding costs also shot up,” said Michael Murphy.
The IFA have met with senior representatives of Meat Industry Ireland in an effort to try and put in place measures that would help to stabilise the lamb price in the run-up to the peak June/Summer sales period.
With the hogget market now almost completely dried-up, there are hopes that there should be a solid demand for lambs over the coming weeks.
Michael Murphy said that at least over the last couple of weeks the prices had stabilised with lambs making up to €5.70c a kilo while hoggets were making €5.20c/kg.
“Costs just went through the roof this Winter and Spring and the lack of early grass really hit hard at producers. At least if we could keep the price close to the €5.70c/kg mark through the summer period, it would help to balance the books,” said Michael Murphy.
Meanwhile IFA National Sheep Chairman, John Lynskey, said that a top level IFA delegation led by new President, Joe Healy, would be meeting with the meat industry to try and stabilise the market.
“A sustainable sheep sector needs the seasonal supply spread provided by strong spring lamb and hogget enterprises. Otherwise the processing sector will become more dependent on imports,” said John Lynskey.
According to the IFA an analysis of supplies shows that the lamb kill for last year was up 67,000 head on 2014. To date this year, the hogget kill is up 28,000 head.