Global wool prices have increased significantly over the past three months on the back of falling supplies.
British Wool vice chair, Brendan Kelly said: “Prices paid for wool have increased by a total 12% over the past four auctions held in Bradford.
“Total clearances have also been recorded at these events, and this trend looks likely to continue.
“Global wool supplies are falling at the present time, and like all commodities, prices are driven by supply and demand.”
The June 2004 agricultural census for England confirms a 7% reduction in breeding ewe numbers, year-on-year.
“This is likely to be replicated here in Ireland. A large number of hoggets were slaughtered earlier this year on the back of the very high sheep prices available at that time.
“This took an entire cohort of animals out of the system, which would have been maintained for breeding under normal circumstances,” Kelly said.
Meanwhile, the age profile of sheep farmers continues to increase.
“This is another factor that is impacting on sheep numbers at the present time. With advancing age, significant numbers of sheep producers are simply selling their flocks on,” Kelly added.
Wool
Meanwhile, wool deliveries to the Ulster Depot in Co. Antrim are well behind where they would normally be at this time of the year.
“The wet weather has held up the completion of most jobs on farms this year, and shearing sheep has been no different in this regard,” he explained.
“The few dry days that farmers have come along have seen farmers concentrating on a range of jobs with getting wool to Muckamore well down their list of priorities.
“But the good news is that the wool delivered now is arriving at a time when markets are strengthening significantly,” Kelly added.
The British Wool representative fully recognises the need for the sheep sector to be adequately supported. He is a member of Northern Ireland’s Sheep Task Force.
“We recently met with representatives from the Department of Agriculture top put the case in favour of adequate support for the sheep sector.
“But it will take new money to make this happen. This is a matter which the Stormont farm minister must take up with the Treasury in London as a matter of priority,” Kelly stressed.
The taskforce published a report 18 months ago, highlighting the support priorities for the sheep industry in Northern Ireland.
These include the development of genetic improvement schemes and the availability of capital grant measures for the sheep sector.
