The Livestock and Meat Commission said that NI consumers were continuing to appreciate the taste, goodness and versatility of lamb.
"According to the latest TNS (Taylor Nelson Sofres) survey, consumers in Northern Ireland are serving up more lamb dishes than ever before – 20 per cent more in 2007 than in 2006,'' the LMC said.
In the Republic, Irish Farmers' Association National Sheep chairman, Henry Burns, said that Easter marked the start of the new season lamb.
"Irish spring lamb is of excellent quality and a fully traceable and naturally-produced meat,'' he said. "Lamb has a very positive image with consumers as a top quality, environmentally-friendly meat. It is regarded as near organic.''
The IFA sheep farmers' leader said the Irish domestic lamb market was very important to the sheep sector. "In 2007, Irish consumers purchased 21,000 tonnes of lamb, or 31 per cent of total production. Per capita consumption of sheep meat is 5.0kg.
The home market was very strong again in 2007 with Taylor Nelson Sofres retail figures showing expenditure up 11 per cent, to €127 million (£99 million). Lamb accounted for eight per cent of household fresh meat purchases with volumes growing by three per cent and the average retail price up by eight per cent.
The average retail price for lamb was up eight per cent, to €9.77/kg (£7.62/kg). However, prices at farm level were flat at €3.72/kg (£2.90/kg), highlighting the major problem of the continuing divergence between consumer and producer prices.
Henry Burns said sheep production was the third most important farming sector after beef and dairying. Thirty-four thousand farmers were involved and output was valued at more than €260 million (£202 million), with export earnings of €190 million (£148 million). "France is the major export market, accounting for more than 55 per cent of exports, at 27,500 tonnes,'' he said. "The United Kingdom is our second largest export market at 12,500 tonnes.
The IFA Chairman said the sheep sector made a very important economic, social and environmental contribution to Ireland, particularly in rural areas. He said sheep farming played a critically important environmental role preserving sensitive hill and mountainous areas.
Irish Cattle and Sheep Association sheep chairman, Mervyn Sunderland, urged consumers in the Republic to make sure that lamb they ate was Irish.
"The country is awash with cheaply-produced, untraceable New Zealand lamb, and it is up to the consumer, whether in the supermarket, at the butcher or, indeed, in a restaurant, to ensure that they only get the most natural, healthy product available, which is lovely Irish lamb.
"ICSA successfully campaigned for the introduction of country of origin (beef) labelling in 2006, and continues to apply huge amounts of pressure on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to extend this legislation to cover lamb products. But until that happens, it is up to the consumer to be extra vigilant.''