Beef boosts Irish agri-food sector

THE beef industry is acknowledged as one of the unrivalled success stories within the Irish agri-food sector, Minister Mary Coughlan said yesterday.

Speaking at a function in Dublin to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), she said Ireland produces more than 500,000 tonnes of beef annually, with more than 90% of this exported.

In 2007, beef exports were valued at almost e1.6 billion, making Ireland Europe’s largest net beef exporter.