Donegal IFA livesstock committe chairman, George O’Hagan said that morale was low in the farming community due to a number of difficult years and continuing rising costs in production.

He said that he was concerned if sheep farmers did not enjoy a good year this year the sector could “disappear”.

Donegal IFA county Chairman, William Monagle, said they had hoped former Argriculture Minister, Tániaiste Mary Coughlan, could have “pulled something out of the bag” before her promotion and change in ministerial profile and added he hoped new Argricultre Minisiter Brendan Smyth could act on the crisis in the sector.

Sheep Committee Chairman, Seamus Quinn, said the main problem was the current price of lamb and the rising cost of production adding that he believe there was no “quick fix” in resolving the problems.

George O’Hagagn said farmers needed an “incentive to produce” and the main thing they required to improve the situation was “a decent market price.”

On a positive note he added that currently there was a growth in the domestic level of lamb consumption.