Subsidy loss a blow to livestock sector as cost will be passed on
But the loss of the subsidy has dismayed the Irish livestock sector, with processors, renderers and farmers warning they can’t afford to pay extra costs without Government help.
John Smith, chief executive, Irish Meat Association, has said farmers selling livestock from this week onwards will bear the brunt of the elimination of Government funding.
He said the Government subsidy for rendering and subsequent disposal of bones and soft offal is equivalent to 13/head on cattle, and 2 per head on sheep.
A separate Government subsidy for rendering and destruction of blood corresponds to more than 4 per head of cattle and around 0.25/animal in the case of sheep.
Irish Renderers Association David McDowell warned that if the situation remains unresolved, renderers will have no option but to withdraw their services.
This has led to fears of meat processing grinding to a halt, if agreement is not reached on the issue.
The IFA, ICMSA and Irish Poultry Producers Association have all criticised the ending of the rendering subsidy.
