Meat factories are taking over €1 million per week out of sheep farmers’ pockets.
That is according to ICSA sheep chair, Sean McNamara, who believes that meat factories have taken over €4 million from sheep farmers in the last few weeks alone.
He stated that plants have pulled lamb prices “sharply” repeatedly in recent weeks, and as a result, they are now back €1/kg compared to the second week of July.
“That is around €21/head slashed from every lamb processed at the 21kg weight limit. With an average of 50,000 lambs processed per week, that is €1.05m denied to sheep farmers per week, or upwards of €4 million over four weeks,” he said.
“Sheep farmers simply cannot absorb that kind of hit. Inflation is hitting us hard, and input costs have gone through the roof.”
“The processors tell us that we are getting the same as last year, but what good is that to us?”
He urged all sheep farmers to resist any further price cuts. He believes there is “no justification”for these price cuts, and the way processors are treating their suppliers is “unacceptable”.
“Last year’s prices are not enough to keep us in business this year. We cannot survive as a sector when we cannot cover our basic costs of production,” he concluded.
VIDEO: Sheep Bulk Handler to enter the Irish market
In other news, O’Donovan Engineering has partnered with ProWay Livestock Equipment to deliver a new product range to the Irish market.
The companies will officially launch the product range at Tullamore Show on August 14th, 2022, at stand L62-L67.
For over two decades, ProWay Sheep Yards has earned a reputation as “industry-leading” for design features, strength, efficiency, longevity, and safety.
A key feature of ProWay yards is its product called the ‘Bulk Handler’.
This specialised handling unit optimally positions and holds sheep in groups, by lifting the animal to waist height, improving sheep handling efficiency and safety across most husbandry tasks.
Read more on this news story.
