Clearer market signals needed

“Processors have been trying to buy spring lambs around the 470p/kg mark over the past week. This is far short of producer expectations. Early lamb is a high cost system and realistically farmers need a steady price of around 540p/kg to cover their costs and leave something for their own labour and future investment,” says Mr Cleland.

Mr Cleland says three consecutive years of prices below production costs is unsustainable. According to the UFU, some sheep producers have also been told by processors that their lambs are not wanted by the market.

“This is a major setback for farmers who have put in a lot of hard work to produce high quality early lamb. It shows a lack of joined up thinking in the supply chain that there are not clear signals coming from the market about when processors are ready to switch from hoggets to new season lamb,” says Mr Cleland.

With Brexit a major focus for the sheep industry, given Northern Ireland’s reliance on exports, Mr Cleland says it is also an opportunity to discuss how the industry can become more market focused and profitable.