Partial reprieve on subsidy averts withdrawal of cattle

THE threat by farmers to withhold cattle supplies from processors with effect from Monday last in protest over the additional levy for rendering was averted at the eleventh hour following a partial reprieve on the Government subsidy.

While supplies of cattle were available as normal to the factories on Monday, slaughtering during the first half of the week was lighter than usual, with a number of processors holding back on slaughtering until to-day and to-morrow because of adequate meat supplies in stock and weak export market demand.

But the last minute intervention by the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh TD with the offer of a three month partial restoration of the Government subsidy towards rendering costs has left unfinished business which neither the industry or the beef producers are happy about.