Sean Dennehy was speaking after a meeting of the IFA national sheep committee with Declan Fennell, lamb manager with Bord Bia.

“Members of the national sheep committee were very clear. If the factories want quality-assured lamb, they must pay a reasonable reward for it, which covers the time and work input of the farmer and also reflect a premium from the market.”

Dennehy said the factories have dragged their heels on quality assurance, with minimal reward or return to the farmer. He said farmers are not prepared to do all the work if they are not properly rewarded for quality assurance.

Committee members also told Bord Bia that the quality assurance inspectors must adopt a reasonable farmer-friendly, practical approach at farm audits.

Frustration

Dennehy said sheep farmers are disappointed with lamb prices and extremely frustrated and angry with the way factories and retailers have taken additional margin out of the price at the cost of the primary producer.