Quality payment system for cattle hailed by producers and processors

A NEW quality payment system for cattle to be introduced for steers and heifers at meat factories on Monday has been hailed as a major advance by processors and as a positive step forward by producers.

Meat Industry Ireland, representing processors, said the payment system will stimulate the production of greater numbers of higher quality cattle. The IFA said it will reward farmers for quality.

The new structure follows detailed discussions over many months between the IFA and the meat industry group and is based on detailed scientific research carried out by Dr Michael Drennan, Teagasc Grange.