Farm leader warns of factory chaos

A farm leader warned yesterday of possible chaos in beef processing factories in a row over the timetable for the introduction of mechanical grading.

The Department of Agriculture and Food is going ahead with plans to withdraw cattle grading staff at the weekend ahead of the mechanical systems being fully installed.

It said this is in accordance with an agreed timetable with the industry and unions. It also pointed out that it had trained factory staff to a high standard in carcass grading and stressed that it will maintain a supervisory role in the plants, which should reassure the factories and farmers on any concerns they might have.