First ever Bord Bia beef and lamb conference
Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh will give the keynote address on “The Effects of CAP Reform” on the Irish beef and lamb sectors.
Bord Bia staff will address key issues, including the marketing plans for Irish beef and lamb, the prospects for EU markets, international market developments and quality assurance.
There will also be a panel discussion with all the Bord Bia overseas managers addressing the topics of priorities and requirements for beef, lamb and live cattle in Ireland’s main export markets which include Britain, France, Italy, Holland and Spain.
Bord Bia said the conference will present an unique opportunity to look at a wide range of issues in our most important export markets at a time when farmers are deciding on their future plans arising from the CAP reforms.
Meanwhile, total cattle throughput at EU export approved meat plants in 2003 is expected to increase by nearly six per cent on 2002 levels, to 1.76 million head.
Total sheep throughput is forecast to decline by almost five per cent on year earlier levels to nearly 2.77 million head.
Of the total cattle throughput, most of the increase is expected to result from an eight per cent increase in male cattle.
Steer supplies are expected to finish the year some 58,000 head higher than year earlier levels while young bull disposals are forecast to increase by nearly one third to 53,000 head.
Heifer throughput is expected to increase by nearly three per cent on 2002 levels to 430,000 head while cow supplies will increase by nearly four per cent to 334,000 head, reflecting a return to a more traditional disposal pattern.
While total sheep supplies during the first half the year were running some 18% ahead of corresponding 2002 levels, supplies during the second half of the year were tighter due to the lower lamb crop and the return to a more traditional disposal pattern.
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