Beef quality guarantee is key

JOINING the Bord Bia Beef Quality Assurance Scheme (BQAS) could enable cattle farmers to make the most of favourable market prospects, as EU beef production continues to exceed consumption, all the way to 2012.

The word from Bord Bia last week was that BQAS is the cornerstone to maintaining and expanding Ireland’s share of the higher priced beef export markets. Quality assurance was described as an ‘absolute prerequisite’ for leading retail, food service and manufacturing buyers.

Bord Bia chief Aidan Cotter said it is vital that the maximum number of farmers participate in the scheme, in order to ensure the future security of the Irish beef market.