Gap between Irish and British beef prices widens by €60 per head

THE gap between Irish and British beef prices widened by a further €60 per head in October, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association claimed yesterday.

ICMSA beef and cattle committee chairman Martin McMahon said this brought the prices gap to over €150 per head at a time when Irish beef farmers are on their knees.

“There is absolutely no justification for such a price gap between Irish and British cattle.

“It must be bridged immediately by meat processors,” he said.

Mr McMahon said beef prices have actually increased in Britain since the start of October while prices have fallen in Ireland.

The average steer in Ireland is now being sold at €150 less than its equivalent in Britain.

At the start of October, the gap stood at €90 per head.

The reason the gap has grown is simple.

“With the increased kill over the past month, meat processors are simply taking advantage of the increased supplies and are profiteering at the expense of farmers by pulling prices.

“These cattle are now being sold at a loss and farmers will simply not be able to stay in the business unless prices return to sustainable levels.

“Once again, our processors take a short-term benefit with no account taken of the long-term damage to the overall sector,” he said.

Mr McMahon said Britain accounts for over 50% of Irish beef exports. Prices are rising in that market. The drop in beef prices in Ireland over the past month simply cannot be justified.

The cost of the price gap for Irish farmers on steers alone is over €11 million for October. Farmers cannot afford such losses.

Yet again farmers must appeal to the processors to pay fair prices that will safeguard the future of the sector and ensure a supply of Irish beef, he said.