Call to halt factory price cuts

IFA president John Dillon has said meat factories must immediately halt the current cattle price cuts and bring a level of stability to the trade.

Mr Dillon was speaking before a meeting with key meat factory representatives in Dublin.

National Livestock Committee chairman John Bryan who was at the meeting said the cattle price cuts at the factories over the last 3 weeks are extremely damaging to farm incomes.

Mr Bryan said cattle prices have fallen from €2.94/kg down to €2.66/kg for R grades in a very short period.

“Cutting the price by €95 per head on stock coming off grass completely wipes away the profit on summer grazing,” he added.