ICMSA: Farmers going ‘off the grid’ to slaughter cattle due to prices

DAIRY farmers are going “off the grid” to slaughter cattle due to dissatisfaction at the prices being delivered by meat factories using the QPS beef grid, says the ICMSA.

Kevin Connolly, chairman of the ICMSA’s beef and cattle committee, estimates that almost 75% of steers are getting at or just around the absolute base price payable under the MII beef grid.

Based on Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food figures on the cattle kill from April to November, Mr Connolly said a breakdown of that 75% was even more revealing: of the 75% paid prices at or below the base price, 53% are getting less than base price, with only 22% getting the base price.