The Irish Farmers' Association's (IFA) sheep chair, Adrian Gallagher, has said that cuts to hogget prices by sheep factories are "unnecessary and highly irresponsible".

According to Gallagher, store finishers have incurred their costs in producing hoggets for factories.

He believes that this gives factories a consistent supply of meat for their key customers, but that their "reckless behaviour is decimating their returns".

Gallagher said: "Store finishers are now a key part of the sector, providing a vital outlet for hill farmers and maintaining a year-round supply of sheep meat.

The IFA sheep chair claims that factories are undermining the confidence of farmers, which risks "huge knock-on impacts" for store finishers and hill sheep producers.

Gallagher believes that factories can, and must, do more in the marketplace to maintain sustainable prices for farmers, and reverse price cuts.

Last month (April, 2025), Independent TD, Carol Nolan claimed that factories are engaged in a “prolonged attempt” to force “unacceptably low prices” on sheep farmers.

Deputy Nolan said that she has been contacted by both individual farmers and farmer representative bodies in relation to lamb and hogget prices.

“There is unanimous agreement among those who have come to me that the factories are attempting to exert significant industry-wide pressure on sheep famers to accept reduced prices,” she said.

The TD also claimed that the price reductions have been happening since early March, “well ahead of lambing season in order to give cover to what is clearly a pre-determined attempt to squeeze sheep farmers on prices”.

“I am calling on the factories to engage in good faith and pay what is required for top class product,” she added.