IFA calls for increase in cattle prices to curb losses in industry

CATTLE farmers need an immediate price increase to stop haemorrhaging losses, the Irish Farmers Association has declared.

Padraig Walshe, IFA president, said a price increase to €3.50/kg is fully justifiable based on the strong beef market price returns from Ireland’s main export market in Britain and on market returns from Europe. Winter finishers are not going to feed cattle at a loss for factories. Feeders at current prices are losing €100 to €150 per head.

“The factories and their agents have used every trick in the book to undermine confidence and hit the price. They have used sterling, the dioxin scare, the recession, job losses and everything else they could find,” he said.

Mr Walshe said that cattle supplies are tight both here and across Europe. The British price is at €3.50/kg and rising.

IFA Livestock Committee chairman Michael Doran said cattle prices in Britain are up 33% on this time last year. The change in sterling over the same period is 20%. The price rise in our main export market has far outweighed the change in currency.

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Beef and Cattle Committee chairman Martin McMahon said a gap of more than €100 per head exists between the price paid for Irish steers and the price paid in Britain. This must be bridged if finishers are to make a reasonable margin, he said.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association Beef Committee chairman Sean Scully said beef prices are rising this week due to a reported shortage of finished cattle for processors. But this is not enough for farmers losing €150-€200 per head finishing cattle over winter.