Subsidy loss a blow to livestock sector as cost will be passed on

EUROPEAN Commission guidelines require the Government cattle rendering subsidy of up to 17 per head to be ended this year.

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.