The decision to introduce mandatory EID tagging will add some €2.5m in costs to sheep farmers, based on additional costs of €1/lamb and a throughput of some 2.5m lambs/ annum, according to the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association.

However, the average profit per lamb is about €14, based on an annual average price of €100 or €4.80/kg over the past five years.

"It costs the average Teagasc profit monitor farmer €86 to produce a lamb. So when the Minister adds €1 cost to a lamb producing €14 profit, he is imposing a 7% income cut.

"This compares badly with EU proposals to cut CAP direct payments by 4%," ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks said at a protest at Ag House on Monday.

He added that the proposal for a one-off payment of €50 was really rubbing farmers up the wrong way.

“Does the Minister really believe we can be bought off for €50? You’d give it to a youngster for their holy communion but it doesn’t make up for a permanently imposed cost leading to a 7% cut in sheep farmers’ profits. That’s on lowland farms.

"The situation is even worse for hill farmers who are being asked to fund an extra euro when selling store lambs from the hills that might only be worth €20-30," Brooks said.

ICSA to protest over mandatory EID tagging of sheep

Electronic tagging debate ignites

EID tagging a 7% income cut for sheep farmers - ICSA

The ICSA sheep committee brought its opinion on EID tagging to the door of Ag House on Kildare Street on Monday, seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Creed.