Livestock official warns against factories pulling back cattle prices

ATTEMPTS by the meat factories to pull back cattle prices would bankrupt winter finishers and put a halt to farmers feeding cattle for the spring, it was claimed yesterday.

IFA Livestock Committee chairman Michael Doran, who made the claim, said this is a crucial period as the action of factories on prices will determine what farmers will do in terms of feeding or storing for the spring.

“Farmers are not going to finish cattle for the factories at a loss,” he said, pointing out that demand for beef in Britain is very strong with prices up and a full sell out over the holiday period.