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Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
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‘Some deals of €7.00/kg, and over, are reported as factories struggle to fill orders’

Lamb prices January 2022 

The IFA has stated that increased food service sector demand will “drive” lamb prices.

IFA sheep chairman, Sean Dennehy, said the return to normal opening hours for the foodservice sector will drive domestic demand for lamb and sheepmeat over the coming weeks.

Dennehy said the domestic foodservice sector is a “key” outlet for lamb.

He explained that as society returns to more normal social engagements, demand for lamb will increase.

He said the reduction in COVID-19 cases and the changes to the public health guidelines have eased the staffing issues at processing level.

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“Lamb numbers are extremely tight.  With good weather, farmers are under no pressure to sell, and factories are struggling to get supplies to meet the market demand,” he said.

He said the number of lambs in factories today (Monday, January 24th, 2022) is “low”, and €6.90/kg is “freely available”.

“Some deals of €7.00/kg, and over, are reported as factories struggle to fill orders,” he added.

Dennehy said the cuts factories are applying to overweight lambs are “unnecessary and should stop” as processing capacity and domestic demand improve.

“The mart trade for these lambs is much better than what factories are offering. Farmers should consider the most appropriate outlet for the lambs they have,” he advised.

Dennehy said lamb numbers are tight, market demand is “strong and improving”, and farmers should only sell lambs as they become fit in a rising market.

Concluding, he reported that cull ewes are making from €3.20 to €3.50/kg, in general, with some prices exceeding this range.

Farmers must ‘hold the line’ at €7.00/kg: Lamb prices January 2022 

Meanwhile, the ICSA sheep chair, Sean McNamara, has said that sheep farmers must “hold the line” at a minimum of €7.00/kg.

He stated that “farmers should not accept any less than €7.00/kg for hoggets over the coming weeks”.

McNamara said factories are “doing everything” in their power to “chip away” at prices.

Therefore, he said farmers must do “everything in their power” to resist them.

“As sheep farmers, our cost of production is upwards of €7.00/kg and rising all the time, so we are only demanding what is fair.”

“As sheep farmers, our cost of production is upwards of €7.00/kg and rising all the time, so we are only demanding what is fair.”

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