He said sheep farmers producing spring lamb are increasingly frustrated by the confused market demand signals from retailers.

He said advice from Teagasc and Bord Bia was either insufficient or out of date when supermarkets are stocking hoggets rather than spring lamb.

“Farmers who go to the cost of producing spring lamb are no longer in tune with market signals when we see hogget being used in supermarkets later and later into the year before they switch to lamb,” said Mr Brooks.

“Farmers are getting a raw deal by not receiving the proper information to make informed decisions and strategically plan for production.

“This year producers of spring lamb have had to rely on butchers to recognise the premium nature of the product on offer and their willingness to pay in excess of €7.00/kg.

However, this industry cannot rely on the butcher sector alone.”

The ICSA spokesman has called upon Bord Bia, processors, and retailers to issue updated advice on markets available, particularly on the optimum timing for spring lamb.

He said Teagasc needs to review its advice on the economics of early lamb production systems when hogget prices suggest that late lambing is a more profitable system.

Roscommon-Galway independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice rejected meat factory explanations that falling lamb prices were due to the weakness of Sterling and a tough French market.

“The big factories are once again calling the tune,” said Mr Fitzmaurice.

“The fact remains there is a cartel of factories who are controlling prices and they are taking money out of the pockets of farmers who are already under pressure to make ends meat. The Minister for Agriculture needs to look into look into this situation immediately.”