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.

It said it was inviting the Irish Farmers Association and Bord Bia to join it in seeking an urgent meeting with Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to highlight the current problems facing the beef sector and seek appropriate solutions.

The protests were organised by the IFA outside the AIBP factory in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, the Kepak plant in Athleague, Co Roscommon, and Dawn Meats Group’s plant in Granagh, Co Waterford.

IFA president Padraig Walshe, at the Nenagh protest, said there was deep anger among beef producers at the way the factories had cut prices and used negative propaganda to destroy confidence among winter finishers and erode incomes.

“Producers are losing e200 per head. Many winter finishers will be put out of business,” he said, claiming the price cuts of over e80 a head over the last month are unjustified, based on market returns.