Protests by sheep farmers about the prices they have been getting for their lambs were mounted at meat plants in six counties from late last evening.
Despite a plea from Meat Industry Ireland that the producer prices merely reflect the international market returns from the French market and the collapse of lamb skin prices, the protests went ahead.
They took place at the Kepak plants in Athleague, Co Roscommon, and Hacketstown, Co Carlow; the Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin, Co Wexford, and Navan, Co Meath; the Dawn Meats plant in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo; and the Kildare Chilling plant in Kildare.
The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, John Dillon, said there was real anger among sheep farmers at the actions of the lamb factories in cutting spring lamb prices by up to €1 per kilogram or almost €20 per lamb in the last two weeks.
"Some farmers are telling the IFA that they are refusing to sell at current prices," he said.
However, last night Meat Industry Ireland, which represents most meat-processing plants, said claims by the farming organisations that processors were attempting to "rip off farmers" were misleading.
Cormac Healy of Meat Industry Ireland said that the action was totally misguided and if it was allowed in any way to interfere with normal business activity it would be damaging to the entire Irish sheep sector.
Targeting the processing plants for the difficult market conditions would not provide a solution.
"The processing industry is fully aware of the need for sheep farmers to receive a viable price for lambs, but farmers and their representatives must realise that market conditions determine the price, and these market conditions will vary," he said.
Mr Dillon accused the Irish lamb factories of collectively leading down prices. He said that on April 4th the factories paid €5.46 per kilogram for spring lamb, which was in line with the French market return of €5.46 per kilogram reported by Bord Bia.
One week later, on April 11th, the factories had pulled prices down to €4.48 per kilogram, while Bord Bia reported French market returns of €5.24 per kilogram.
However, Mr Healy said, the price of Irish spring lamb in France was €4.50 to €4.60 per kilogram yesterday. The French market was not returning €5.03 per kilogram, as was inaccurately claimed last week.