Livestock farmers protest at price cuts

LIVESTOCK farmers protested yesterday outside three meat plants over cuts in the prices they are being paid for cattle.

They warned that the slump in prices will erode their incomes and force many winter finishers out of the beef industry.

Meat Industry Ireland, which represents processors, described the protests, however, as misguided and unhelpful in the current climate and insisted that the cattle prices being paid to farmers reflect market returns.